The Boy with His Head in the Clouds/Transcript

Introduction

In his imagination, Arthur climbs up the back of Mr. Ratburn's head.

Arthur: Have you ever wondered what the inside of someone's head looked like? Not the brain part. That just looks like squishy cauliflower. But the inside of someone's mind. Let's see what's goin on in here.

He enters Mr. Ratburn's head through the ear. It looks like the inside of a factory.

Arthur: Just as I thought. It's a giant homework machine. Stuff comes in from the five senses here, then, before any information can be turned into a homework assignment, the fun has to be removed from it. This was from a trip to the museum.   One of the workers puts Arthur on a conveyor belt.   Ahh! Let me go!    He gets zapped by the machine.   I am educational. I am educational. I am educational.

Cut to the classroom.

Mr. Ratburn: And for homework this weekend, I'd also like you to write an essay on Arthur.

Class: Huh?

Mr. Ratburn: (thinks:) Arthur? Why on earth did I say that? No more double lattes for me.

Arthur: I'm never going back in there.  Let's see whose mind would be cool to see next. Hey, what about George!

George's mind is filled with pretty pictures and films (most of it live-action).

Arthur: Wow! It's all pictures!

The words “thing”, “think” and “ting” appear.

George: Word alert! Can not identify. Meltdown will commence in two minus five seconds. Four seconds. Three seconds. Two seconds.           Everything starts shaking.

Arthur: What's going on? It's just a simple word. What's the big deal?

#

(Intertitle)

Muffy: (voice-over) The Boy With His Head in the Clouds!

(Back to the story)

Nigel Ratburn: Okay, class. Today we're going to work on word problems. Do all your calculations on a piece of scratch paper. (clearing throat)

#

Arthur, Buster and Francine are playing “No Guessing” in the treehouse.

Arthur: I win! And I didn't cheat!

Buster: We’d better check his sleeves, just in case.

#

George attempts to read a trivia card.

George: Hut is de cabular Nomain?

Francine: George, can you read?

George: Of course I can read. What do you think I am, stupid?   He leaves.   I hate this game anyway. It's filled with useless facts that no one needs to know.    Buster picks up the card.

Buster: Oh. It says: What is the capital of Norway.

George: Oslo! The capital of Norway is Oslo!

 #

George takes Wally out of a box.

Wally: Hh! You could have put some airholes in that thing. How long have I been in there? What year is it? Are you George's son? Oh, you look so much like him.

George: Wally, I need your advice. Kids are finding out how much trouble I have reading and writing and stuff.

Wally: Never cared much for writing myself. Horrible things, pencils. Have you ever seen how they're made?

George: Pay attention, Wally. No one's gonna be my friend if they think I'm dumb. What should I do?

Wally: Hm. That's a toughie. Let's pace. Well, you can't be the class clown again. Last time you did that I ended up with that four-year-old. Yech, I can still taste the lipstick. Wait, I've got it! Why don't you try being like Binky? He's not the sharpest crayon in the pack, but people really like him.

George: Yeah. I'll be tough and mean. Then, even if they think I'm dumb, they'll still respect me. Thanks, Wally.    

He puts Wally back in the box.

Wally: Wait, what are you doing? Whatever happened to “I scratch your back and you don't put me in the box for a year”? Noo!

#

George attempts to be tough as “Hammer” (with a song that parodies “Shaft”).

George: Who's the moose that's on the loose? Hammer.   - Hammer!

Five feet tall from horns to caboose. Hammer.   - Hammer!

He's tough as nails. He's real bad. He's never sad.   - Hammer!

Don't mess with him.

#

Mr. Ratburn collects the essays on the renaissance.

Mr. Ratburn.: Okay, class. Let's see those reports.   picks up Muffy's paper   “The Medicis: From Riches to Riches” Okay.  picks up Buster's paper   “U.F.O.s or Michelangelo: Who really painted the Sistine Chapel”  Hm.