Bully for Binky

"Bully for Binky"
Season/Series:	1
Number in season:	23a
Original Airdate:	November 6, 1996 December 23, 1999 January 14, 2002
Credits
Written by:	Joe Fallon
Storyboard by:	Gerry Capelle
Episodes
Previous "Team Trouble"	Next "Misfortune Teller"
Read transcript

"Bully for Binky" is the first half of the twenty-third episode in the first season of Arthur.

Summary

Binky gets a taste of his own medicine when someone finally stands up to his bullying.

Plot

As Binky goes about bullying the other kids at Lakewood Elementary School, Arthur explains how Binky's been the biggest at their school ever since they were in preschool.

Arthur then notes how Binky doesn't even take a day off during holidays, noting how when watching a parade with Buster, Binky pushes them out of the way and stood in a position that didn't allow Arthur and Buster to be able to see the parade.

Before the title, Arthur asks the viewers on what to do against a bully that's so huge.

After the title card, Arthur and his friends discuss their Binky problem in the library as Binky whizzes through riding a ladder. Arthur says that need some kind of anti-Binky plan, and when Brain examines Binky, he notes that he's strong and that his cumbersome feet root him very solidly to the ground. Arthur says that Binky's like a tree, except without the birds and the fact that he can chase after someone. Francine notes that they can't think of any potential weaknesses.

The scene then cuts to Binky bullying the other kids during a basketball game, during which Arthur and his friends are thinking of ways to stop Binky from bullying them. While Binky's shooting hoops, one of the shots bounces into the middle of Sue Ellen's jump rope. Binky then mocks Sue Ellen, who angrily calls Binky an oaf and eventually demands to apologize to her for what he did. Binky eventually says, "Apologize? Maybe you'd rather fight me!" to which Sue Ellen calmly agrees to, much to everyone's shock. Sue Ellen repeats herself and says that she's not going to let some bully push her and her friends around. As a distraction, Buster exclaims "Halley's comet!" Binky looks around, only to find out that the gang has run away.

The scene then cuts to the kids' music class with Miss Krasny, who gives them pieces for the school's upcoming music recital, most of which are duets. Francine (who plays the drums) and Buster (who plays the tuba) get assigned to a duet while Binky (who plays the clarinet) and Sue Ellen (who plays the alto sax) are assigned to a duet. Arthur notices that Binky seems kind of scared of Sue Ellen, who whispers something to Binky.

After school, Binky and the rest of the Tough Customers are waiting for Sue Ellen to show up. When Rattles doesn't see Sue Ellen anywhere, Molly suggests that she was too scared of Binky to go through with the fight. However, Binky reveals that Sue Ellen wasn't able to come because she had a Tae Kwon Do-class (which was apparently what she whispered to Binky about in their music class), which Binky assumes is some kind of Korean cooking class. Molly points out to Binky that Tae Kwon Do has nothing to do with cooking—it's actually a type of martial arts from Korea. The Tough Customers later show him a Tae Kwon Do-program on TV, and Binky gets worried, especially after seeing a woman chop a car using Tae Kwon Do.

The scene cuts to the cafeteria, where Binky tries to steal Buster's frozen yogurt when Sue Ellen reminds him that to meet at 3:00. The scene cuts outside of the school. Binky imagines Sue Ellen kicking a basketball pole causing it to fall. Binky then says that he'll deal with her on Monday. They watch a movie when Sue Ellen interrupts Binky that she was waiting for him this afternoon and they'll fight on Monday

The scene cuts to outside the school with Sue Ellen wondering why Binky hasn't shown up yet. Arthur explains that he's volunteering to clap erasers after school. After hearing this, Sue Ellen questions what happened to the last kid who fought Binky. Arthur admits that he doesn't know and Francine brings up a very good question: has Binky ever even physically fought someone?

Sue Ellen gets tired of waiting and eventually leaves to go home, and not long after, Binky finally shows up. Francine tells him that Sue Ellen thinks that he's scared to go through with fighting her. Binky tries threatening Francine by challenging her to a fight, but admits that he wants to talk to her and Arthur. Later on, Binky admits something to Arthur and Francine that the Tough Customers don't know (and he doesn't want them to find out): he's never physically fought anyone and whenever he actually would challenge someone to a fight, they always ran away because they were too scared of Binky to go through it. Francine notes that Binky probably wouldn't have this problem if he wasn't always going around bullying the other students, to which Binky simply replies that it's what he's good at. Francine suggests that Binky should channel his energy into something less destructive and something more constructive/artistic, like music. Binky misunderstands this and says it's a good idea to humiliate Sue Ellen.

At the recital Binky says that before they begin their classical piece they will play improvisational jazz. Binky then plays his clarinet, to which the people applause to. Then Sue Ellen plays her alto sax which the people enjoy even more than Binky's clarinet. Binky then thanks them when Arthur tells him that everybody is looking for him. Binky says that Sue Ellen had beat him. Arthur then tells him that beating everybody isn't the most important thing. Arthur says that they actually like him and together he and Sue Ellen sounded the best of anyone. Binky then plays the rest of the song.

The next day Binky tries to steal a donut, only to find out that Sue Ellen is there, so he gives the donut back (saying he was "just checking for harmful objects"). Arthur tells the viewers that there is one solution to the anti-Binky problem, and shows them a drawing of Sue Ellen.

Characters

Major

• Binky Barnes
• Sue Ellen Armstrong
• Rattles
• Molly MacDonald
• Arthur Read
• Buster Baxter
• Francine Frensky
• The Brain

Minor

• Ms. Krasny (debut)

Cameo

• Muffy Crosswire
• D.W. Read
• Dave
• Thora Read
• Leah MacGrady
• Mr. Barnes
• John
• Maria Pappas
• Luke
• Otis
• Helen
• George Lundgren
• Fern Walters
• Jessica
• Brian
• 3rd Grade Male Cat
• Kenny
• Steve
• 3rd Grade Female Aardvark
• 4th Grade Female Aardvark
• 3rd Grade Female Aardvark (Number 2)
• Norman Hedgehog
• 3rd Grade Male Dog (Number 3)
• Jenna Morgan

Trivia

• According to this episode, Binky and Arthur apparently went to preschool together.
• If you listen closely, you can hear exactly what Sue Ellen is whispering to Binky as an excuse. (Um, Binky, I'm not going to be able to come because I've got Tae Kwon Do, Sorry)
• Sue Ellen has a Tae Kwon Do watch.
• First appearance of Ms. Krasny, the music director/teacher for Lakewood Elementary School.
• Despite his fearsome reputation as a bully, it's revealed that Binky has never actually physically fought anyone he's challenged to a fight--prior to Sue Ellen, everyone else was too scared of Binky to go through with it and ended up running away.
• In the Audio Descriptive version, Rattles and Molly are two of Binky's tough friends.
• At the end of the 2000 rerun intro on PBS Kids before this episode, Arthur’s crashing sound changes to pots and pans.
• Timeline: This episode takes place shortly after "Sue Ellen Moves In", judging by Francine's comment.
• Karma:
  • When Binky didn't apologize to Sue Ellen, she called him a "clumsy oath" and threated to fight him.
  • When Binky didn't show up to fight Sue Ellen, she beat him in a music performance.
• Moral: Treat people how you want to be treated.

Error(s)

• When Binky and Sue Ellen play their final piece, another Binky is shown in the audience.
• When Binky took out the white crayon from the bucket, the red crayon is in the former place of the white one.

Home Video

DVD

• Arthur: The Complete Series One
• Arthur's Big Hit (DVD)

Gallery

:Main article: Bully for Binky/Gallery

References