Besties/Transcript

Arthur looks at a collection of trophies in his cupboard.

Arthur: It's easy to know when something is the best. It's just obvious. Like, who's the best dog. Pal!     

He puts a #1 ribbon on Pal’s chest.

Buster sits in the Sugar Bowl in front of a slice of pizza.

Buster: The best pizza.

Brain works in class with a load of books on his desk.

Arthur: The best student.     

He puts the ribbon on Brain’s cheek.

Buster visits his food collection.

Buster: The best piece of ginger shaped like a camel.

Arthur and Buster watch TV. Bionic Bunny has just arrested a villain who looks like Mr. Ratburn.

Arthur+Buster: Best Bionic Bunny episode ever!

Arthur and Buster stand in front of the jungle gym. Arthur holds a ribbon.

Arthur: But is it the same with friends? Can you have more than one best one?  

Francine, George, Muffy, Brain and Binky appear beside them.

Arthur: Hm...     

Buster looks annoyed and walks away.

Arthur: Hh! Buster, wait! I was just kidding! You know it's you!     

Arthur is left alone.

~~~

Title Card: Buster and Ladonna laugh in front of the lockers

~~~

Buster and Ladonna ring the Reads’ doorbell. When Arthur opens, they pretend to be monkeys.

Ladonna: (makes monkey noises)

Arthur: What are you guys doing?

Buster: We're meerkats.

Ladonna: Coming to take you to ‘Mr. Meerkat's Merry Misadventure’!

Buster: In 3-D!

Arthur: I'm sorry, guys, I can't go.

Ladonna: Why not?

Arthur: Dad reminded me that I promised to help clean out the garage. I was supposed to do it yesterday, but I totally forgot.

Buster+Ladonna: Oh...

Arthur: You two go without me. I hear it's supposed to be great.    

All three look sad.

~~~

At the movies, Buster and Ladonna queue first for tickets, then for popcorn.

Ladonna: (whistles)      

Buster scratches his head. Both kids look awkward.

Buster: Too bad Arthur couldn't come.

Ladonna: Yeah, I wish he was here. Not that this isn't fun.

Buster: Oh no, this is fun. I'm having fun. Are you having fun?

Ladonna: Tons of fun!

Buster: What could be more fun than this?

Ladonna: Absolutely nothing.

Buster: It's just that...

Ladonna: ...if Arthur were here...

Buster: ...it'd be even funner.

Ladonna: Right. More fun.

Buster: What?

Ladonna: More fun. It's more grammatically, erm... Never mind. Is this line even moving?

The popcorn machine starts shaking.

Vendor: Look out! She's gonna blow!

The machine’s lid flies off and popcorn rains down all over the lobby. A man catches it in his T-shirt.

People: (cheer)    

Mr. Ratburn stands in the entrance door. A St. Bernard looks through Mr. Ratburn’s legs and sniffs. Then he runs inside. His owner runs into Mr. Ratburn and lets go of the leash.

Dog Owner: Sparky, no! Come back!  Aah!

Buster+Ladonna: (chuckle)      

The dog stands on the lobby counter and eats popcorn. A lady faints. A policeman catches her, but she loses her shoes.  

Buster+Ladonna: (laugh)

~~~

Later, Arthur, Buster and Ladonna sit in the Sugar Bowl.

Buster: It was hysterical. There was popcorn everywhere!

Ladonna: And then the dog got sick!

Buster: Right on the old woman's shoes!

Buster+Ladonna: (laugh)

Arthur: Ha-ha... Weird. Hey, how was the movie?

Ladonna: Ah, I don't remember. Not as good as Popcorn Pandemonium!

Buster: In 4-D!

Buster+Ladonna: (laugh)

Buster: You really had to be there.

Arthur: I wish I had been.

~~~

Ladonna walks up to Arthur and Buster who are standing at their lockers.

Ladonna: Did you hear the forecast today? Cloudy with a chance of popcorn!  

She hands Buster a cup of popcorn.   

Ladonna: I thought you should have this!

Buster+Ladonna: (laugh)   

Arthur looks peeved. He tries to take some popcorn, just as Buster offers it to Ladonna.

Buster: You just had to be there.

~~~

In the school cafeteria, Arthur shares a table with Buster, Ladonna and Sue Ellen.

Ladonna: And then this guy came out with a little broom and dustpan!

Buster: But it didn't even make a dent. I've still got kernels in my pockets!

Ladonna: Me, too! Just when you least expect it, popcorn pandemonium strikes again!

Buster+Ladonna: Boom!  Kapow!  

They throw their kernels in the air.   

Buster+Ladonna: (laugh)    

Several other kids give them odd looks.

Buster: (sighs)

Arthur: I know. Had to be there... How about I get in my time machine, go back two days and we can all experience it together?  

Buster: Hh! When did you get a time machine?!    

~~~

Arthur follows Sue Ellen as she takes her tray away.

Sue Ellen: That's how it starts.

Arthur: How what starts?

Sue Ellen: Losing your best friend. I remember Marilyn Labattski...

Flashback: Sue Ellen pushes a girl on a swing.

Sue Ellen (narrator): She was my bestie before I came to Lakewood.

Flashback: Sue Ellen and Marilyn paint a winged horse.

Sue Ellen (narrator): We were a team.

Flashback: Sue Ellen and Marilyn hold two half-heart bracelets together. At night, they sleep in a tent in the backyard.

Sue Ellen (narrator): Inseparable. Two peas in a pod.

Flashback: A shadow falls on Sue Ellen and Marilyn.

Sue Ellen (narrator): Then she showed up... Sybil Whitcraft. She was mysterious, cool and a whiz at cat's cradle. We both liked her instantly.   

Sybil shows a complicated cat’s cradle.

Flashback: Sue Ellen pushes Sybil on the swing while Marilyn watches.

Sue Ellen (narrator): For a while, all three of us hung out.

Flashback: Marilyn and Sybil ring Sue Ellen’s doorbell. Sue Ellen opens wearing her pajamas.

Sue Ellen (narrator): But then, one day I got a cold and couldn't go to macramé class.

Inside, Sue Ellen blows her nose. Outside, Marilyn and Sybil walk away together.

Sue Ellen (narrator): Marilyn and Sybil went without me.

Flashback: Marilyn and Sybil rides the swings while Sue Ellen just stands there.

Sue Ellen (narrator): I never found out what happened in that macramé class. But from that day on, I had been replaced.   

Sue Ellen walks away.

The fantasy ends.

Sue Ellen: Tossed out like this half-eaten mealy Macoun apple.   

She throws a half-eaten apple in the trash.

Arthur: Buster would never do that to me.

Sue Ellen: I hope not, Arthur. I hope not.    

She walks away. Arthur looks worried. He watches Buster trying to throw a piece of popcorn into Ladonna’s mouth.

Buster+Ladonna: (laugh)

~~~

The next day, Arthur rings the Baxter’s doorbell with a box. Buster opens.

Buster: Hey, there he is! My best bud in the whole world! I brought you a pie.

Arthur: You brought me a pie?

Buster: Yup. Dad and I made it this morning. It's boysenberry, your favorite!

Arthur opens the box on the kitchen table.

Buster: Why'd you bring me a pie?     

Arthur waves some of the smell over to Buster.

Arthur: No reason. I just thought maybe my pal Buster would like some pie.

Buster: Weird... I would like some pie. Hey, maybe you're psychic?

Arthur: Nah. I just know what you're thinking sometimes because we're best buds. Sit, sit. I'll get your plate.

~~~

A while Later, Buster is eating a piece of pie while Arthur watches him.

Buster: Are you sure you don't want any?

Arthur: No, it's all for you. Good, right?

Buster: Did you bring me this pie because you wanna borrow my Curse Of The Moomies video game? Cause you didn't have to.

Arthur: What? No, I don't want anything. I just felt like doing something nice. Oh, that reminds me... When I was cleaning out the garage, I found these old photos.  

He opens an old photo album.      

Arthur: Here we are at the amusement park. And at the beach. And this is when we were four.

Buster: (chuckles)

Arthur: We sure have known each other for a long time.

Buster: We sure have.

Arthur: You know what I think the best thing about best friends is? They're irreplaceable. Well, I gotta go.

Arthur leaves the house.

Arthur: Enjoy the rest of that pie and have a wonderful day.   

Buster waves at him, looking confused.

~~~

Buster and Ladonna sit at a table in the cafeteria.

Buster: And it wasn't just the pie. He also organized my locker.

Ladonna: Hm, I don't know. Maybe he's telling the truth and just being nice.

Buster: No. I know Arthur better than anyone. Something is definitely up.   

Arthur comes.

Arthur: Hey, guys, what you talking about?

Buster: Mock turtle soup!

Ladonna: Pythagorean theorem! Oh, I've just remembered, I've got to go and finish my, er, history report.

Buster: I'll help you. You know me. Hê. Just can't get enough history.     

He leaves after Ladonna. Arthur looks sad.

~~~

At night, Arthur lies in bed. In his dream, Buster plays the piano in a night club.

Buster: 🎶“Old friends are great. / They love what you love and hate what you hate. / You always know just what they're gonna do. / But every now and then you need to start again and spend time with someone new. Whoo!”🎶

Buster and Ladonna do a vaudeville act wearing straw hats and carrying canes.

Buster: 🎶“She's my new best friend”🎶

Ladonna: 🎶“I'm his new best friend.”🎶

Both: 🎶“Together there's nothing we can't do.”🎶

Buster and Ladonna sit in a tree.

Ladonna: 🎶“Climb a tree.”🎶

Buster and Ladonna play pirates in Buster’s room.

Buster: 🎶“Build a fort.”🎶

Buster and Ladonna have a picknick.

Ladonna: 🎶“Have some tea.”🎶

Buster and Ladonna play basketball standing on their heads.

Buster: 🎶“Invent a sport.”🎶

Back on stage.

Both: 🎶“And the best thing is we'll do it without you!”🎶

They point at Arthur who is sitting alone at a table.

Buster: Hey, Ladonna. Knock, knock!

Ladonna: Who's there?

Buster: Arthur.

Ladonna: Arthur who?

Buster: Ar-thur any other fun things to do without him?

Buster is alone on stage again.

Buster: 🎶 “I know this is upsetting / but me, you'll start forgetting / so dry your eyes and don't be blue. / Maybe somewhere out there is a new best friend for you?” 🎶

A warthog sits at Arthur’s table and looks at him.

Warthog: (grunts)

Arthur: (gasps)   

He buries his face in his hands.

The dream ends. Arthur is still shaking his head.

~~~

The next day, Ladonna rakes leaves in her yard. Arthur brings a baseball mitt.

Arthur: Hey, Ladonna, here's the baseball mitt I borrowed.

Ladonna: Hm. You didn't borrow that from me.

Arthur: I didn't? Huh... Maybe I borrowed it from Buster. Oh, by the way, I wouldn't take what he said to heart. He just gets grumpy sometimes.

Ladonna: Wait! What? What did Buster say?

Arthur: He told me you were kind of pushy. I just assumed you two had some sort of a fight.

Ladonna: Kind of pushy? 

She looks hurt.

Arthur: Like I said, he was probably just grumpy. Forget I said anything.   

He leaves. Ladonna looks peeved.

~~~

Arthur and Buster stand at Arthur’s locker. When Ladonna walks by, Buster shows her a piece of popcorn.

Buster: Hey, look what I found in my shoe this morning.

Ladonna: So? What do you want, a Nobel Prize?    

She walks on.

Buster: What was that all about?

Arthur: She's probably just cranky. It might be why she told me, "A little Buster goes a long way."

Buster: What? Why did she say that?

Arthur: Beats me. Like I said, she's probably just cranky.    

They walk to the classroom.    

Arthur: Hey, you want to go to the zoo this weekend? There's a new monkey exhibit.

Buster: Erm, yeah. Sure.       

He looks downhearted.

~~~

On the weekend, Arthur and Buster are in the zoo and look at a rhinoceros.

Buster: What did she mean? Should I be less Bustery? I can't! I'm a hundred percent me.

Arthur: Just forget it. I'm sure she didn't mean it. I think the monkeys are this way.

They walk over to the monkeys.

Buster: Look, there she is!

Arthur: Hh!    

Ladonna and Madison stand near the monkey exhibit.

Buster: I'm gonna go to go talk to her.

Arthur: Wait, no! Let's see the seals instead. It's feeding time.    

Buster runs over to Ladonna.

Buster: What do you mean, a little me goes a long way?

Ladonna: I never said that! Maybe you just thought I did because you think I'm so pushy! I...

Arthur runs between them.

Arthur: Hey, look! Monkeys! Boy, are they cute.

Buster: I don't think you're pushy.

Ladonna: Then why did you tell Arthur I was?    

Arthur pushes Buster and Ladonna over to the monkeys.

Arthur: Haha. They're so hysterical!  Hahaha! I can barely stand it.

Buster: I didn't!

Ladonna: Well, then why...?

Arthur: Okay, okay, it was me! Neither of you said anything about each other. I made it all up.

Buster: But... why?   

A thought bubble above Arthur shows Buster and Ladonna in the cafeteria and at the locker.

Arthur: Because I thought you two were becoming best friends and that I would be left out. I'm really, really sorry.

The kids hear the monkeys screeching. One monkey has grabbed a man’s camera.

Man: Hey! Give that back!

Ladonna: Hey, look! The monkey got his camera!

Photos show the monkey’s face, the camera owner, a banana, Arthur and Buster laughing, the tail of another monkey, a zookeeper’s cap and the zookeeper trying to get his cap back.

Arthur+Buster+Ladonna: (laugh)

~~~

Later at the Sugar Bowl, Arthur, Buster and Ladonna tell their story to Francine and Muffy.

Arthur: So, this one monkey runs around taking pictures!

Ladonna: And then the zookeeper gets the camera back...

Buster: ...but then another monkey steals the zookeeper's hat!

Arthur+Buster+Ladonna: (laugh)      

Muffy and Francine smile politely.

Arthur: I guess you just had to be there.