Stolen Bike/Transcript

School

Arthur Read: Sure! I can't wait. Well, there's one thing that's really important to know about Francine.

Francine: Look out! Coming through!

Sue Ellen Armstrong: Hey!

Arthur: Do not get between her and her bike. Francine was on two wheels while the rest of us were riding tricycles.

(Flashback)

Young Alan: I decided I'd get more power if I lowered the chassis.

Young Arthur: Yeah, well check out this bell!

(he rings the bell)

Young Buster: Bell, schmell! These wheels can do zero to one in sixty seconds!

Young Francine: (cheering)

(Back to the present)

Arthur: There's only one problem with Francine's bike. She's outgrown it.

Francine: Ouch! Ow! Ouch! Ow!

(Title Card)

STOLEN BIKE

Writer: Kathy Waugh ---- Storyboard Artist: Angus Bungay

Francine: (voice-over) Stolen Bike!

Arthur: Agh!

#

Mrs. Frensky: I'm sorry, honey. But we can't afford to get you a new bike. Maybe next year.

Francine: That’s not fair! I'll die without a bike. She puts her head down on the table.

Mr. Frensky: No! Not that! Anything but that! (sobs) You mustn't give up, honey! Be brave! Live, I say! LIVE!

Catherine: walks out of the room Oh, Dad. Grow up!

Mr. Frensky: (calmly:) Catherine's right. And besides, I have an idea.

#

Francine comes to school with her dad’s old bike.

Muffy: What is THAT?

Francine: It's my new bike.

Buster: "New"? In what century?

#

Francine has hidden her bike, because she is ashamed of it. Her friends insist she tell Mr. Haney.

Mr. Haney: Let me get this straight. You were hurrying home on your bike to do your chores... ..when all of a sudden...   An fantasy shows two people in a truck capture Francine and take her bike.     I had no idea these kind of trucks were roaming the streets!

Francine: Um... Can I go home now, Mr Haney? I don't feel well.

The other kids see Francine walk home.

Arthur: Did you think there was something fishy about Francine's story?

Buster: Yeah! Does she expect us to believe she was hurrying home to do her chores? How dumb does she think we are?

Muffy: I think Arthur meant the bike-eating truck was fishy, Buster!

Brain: Francine mustn’t want us to find out who really took her bike.

Muffy: Why?

Buster: Why, of course! Because whoever it is, is somebody we all know!     Muffy and Brain eye each other suspiciously.    And now the question is... which one of us knows how to drive a bike-eating truck?

#

Catherine, Francine and Mr. Frensky sit on the Frenskys’ couch. Catherine is doing her nails.

Catherine: Robbers in helicopters? And you believe her?

Mrs. Frensky brings popcorn.

Mrs. Frensky: Catherine, Francine's had a tough day and you're not helping.

Francine: Can we just forget about it?

She buries her face in her fathers arm.

Mr. Frensky: I know how you feel, hon. But, who knows? Maybe it'll find its way back to us somehow.

Catherine: Dad, it's a bike, not a dog. Anyway, there's someone in this room who knows more than she's saying.

She leaves.

#

Francine is brushing her teeth. She notices Catherine standing behind her.

Francine: Go away!

Catherine: So after you chased these robbers, then what?

Francine: Then I was lost. And I walked around with amnesia until I hit my head on a rock and all my memory came back.

Catherine: That’s from the movie we saw last week. You’ll have to do better than that if you want a new bike.

#

In the school playground Muffy stands on a pile of books and addresses the other kids.

Muffy: I say, Binky’s behind it and it’s up to us to make him confess?

Brain: How?   Muffy holds up a wanted poster offering $1.00.

Muffy: We threaten him! Any volunteers?     The others look away and whistle.    You are the biggest bunch of babies!

Arthur: Muffy!   He points.

Muffy: Don’t interrupt! One of my best and truest friends has been traumatized, and if it takes a Crosswire to right this terrible wrong, then so be it.      Binky is walking up to them looking mean.

Kids: Hhh!

Muffy: It won’t be the first time and it won’t be… the last.   What do you want?

Binky: Are you telling everyone I stole Francine’s bike?!

Muffy: What if I am?!

Binky: Yeah, well…    looks scared     I didn’t do it.     The kids gang up on him.

Muffy: Then who did?

Francine: I did.

Kids: Hhh!

Francine: I did.

Muffy: Francine?

Francine: I know, I know. I didn't really steal it. I just sort of threw it away. So leave Binky alone.

Kids: (cheer)

Muffy: Great. Now everyone hates me thanks to you.   She walks away.

#

Francine visits her dad at the garbage dump. He is sitting next to the bike.

Francine: You found it!

Mr. Frensky: Yeah, it was right here. I guess the thieves got scared and dumped it in the trash.

Francine: Dad...it wasn't thieves. It was me.

Mr. Frensky: I know.      Why’d you do it, Francine?

Francine: Because everyone was making fun of me, and I thought if it got stolen maybe you'd buy me a new one.

Mr. Frensky: I can understand how you felt. But it's no excuse for lying about it.

Francine: I know, Dad. I guess I didn't want to hurt your feelings. I knew how much the bike meant to you. I'm really sorry.     Mr. Frensky lifts up the bike. The front wheel falls off.   Did you really ride that bike to school every day?

Mr. Frensky: Uphill both ways.

Francine: Wow! Hey! Maybe we could fix it up! How about it, Dad? All it really needs is some paint.

Mr. Frensky: I say, what are we waiting for.      He picks up Francine.