The Rhythm and Roots of Arthur/Transcript

Arthur is packing his suitcase in his room while wearing pajamas.

Arthur: I’ll tell you a secret. I love packing. Look at all my stuff, so neat and tidy. But the best part about packing is that it means I’m going on a trip. And this trip is really special. I’m visiting all my cousins in Ohio. And Buster’s coming too! There, all done.    

He closes the suitcase and sees a toy in a box lying next to it.   

Arthur: Oh. Hêhê. Almost forgot the most important thing. My present for cousin Ryder. The Motor Mutations Dark Bunny Wow Plow! He’s gonna love this!      

He puts the box in the suitcase and closes it. Mrs. Read comes in holding Kate.

Kate: (cries)

Mrs. Read: Arthur, don’t forget sunblock.      

She brings Arthur a bottle.

Arthur: They’ll probably have sunblock there.

Mrs. Read: Well, better safe than sorry.       

She leaves. Arthur puts the bottle into the suitcase. Mr. Read brings a photo album.

Mr. Read: Arthur, could you put this photo album in your suitcase?

Arthur: I don’t have any room!      

Mr. Read opens the suitcase and puts in the album.

Mr. Read: What about this pouch here?   Ta-da! Thanks.      

Arthur: But…    

He tries to close the zipper on the suitcase.  

Arthur: (strains)

D.W. comes in with an armful of stuffed animals, including Mary Moo Cow, Fluff McGuffin, Uni and Rapty.

D.W.: Arthur. Could use a little help here.

Arthur: Where are those going?

D.W.: In your bag.

Arthur: No way!

D.W.: I have to! My bag is too small. It’s not my fault they gave me such a small bag.

Arthur: But my bag is full!     

D.W. dumps her toys on the bed.

D.W.: Prove it!         

Arthur opens the suitcase.     

D.W.: There’s tons of room in there. Here, take this book out.

Arthur: Hey!        

D.W. takes out things.

D.W.: You’re not gonna read it anyway.  And this shirt? It looks awful on you. Hgn!   

She throws her toys into the suitcase.

Arthur: No!

D.W.: Mom!!

Arthur: Okay, okay. I’ll take one.    

D.W. takes out her toys except Fluff and Uni.    

Arthur: I said “one”.

D.W.: They’re sisters! You can’t split them up!

Arthur: (sighs)        

D.W. puts in Mary Moo Cow.

D.W.: And Mary Moo Cow is so small, she is almost invisible.

Arthur: Well… I used to like packing.      

Pal barks and jumps into the suitcase.  

Arthur: (chuckles)  Nice try, Pal. Wish I could bring you in my suitcase. But not this time.    

Pal licks his face.    

Arthur: (laughs)

~~~

Title Card: Miles put Buster on Bernice’s back

~~~

Road Trip

The next morning, Mr. Read fastens bags to the top of the Reads’ car. D.W. sits inside.

D.W.: Who’s birthday is it?

Mr. Read: Your great-granduncle Theo’s.          

Thora comes out with a box of sandwiches.

Grandma Thora: That’s my father’s brother. He’s turning eighty-five years old.

D.W.: Will there be eighty-five candles on his cake?

Grandma Thora: Maybe.

D.W.: Hope someone’s bringing a fire extinguisher.

Grandma Thora: It’s a long trip so I packed us some sandwiches for the road.

Mr. Read: Oh, I already made some.

Grandma Thora: Well, I bet you didn’t make my special road trip peanut butter and pickle sandwiches.   

D.W. looks worried.

Mr. Read: (chuckles)  Got me there. I wouldn’t think of making those.

Mrs. Read comes with Kate and Arthur.

Kate: (cries)

Mrs. Read: Call me tonight. I’ll let you know how Kate’s doing.

D.W.: Aren’t you coming with us?

Mr. Read: Kate’s not feeling well, honey, so Mom has to stay and take her to the doctor.       

D.W. runs up to her mother and hugs her legs.

D.W.: Mom!

Mrs. Baxter drives up with Buster in the back.

Arthur: Hh! Buster’s here!

D.W.: If you’re not going, then I’m not going!

Mrs. Read: D.W.

D.W.: No, no way!      

The parents exchange looks. Mr. Read shrugs.

Mrs. Read: Okay, but you’ll miss all the animals.

D.W.: Animals? What animals?

Mrs. Read: Your cousins live on a llama farm.

D.W.: What’s a llama?

Mrs. Read: Well, they have super-soft fur and look a little like ponies with bunny-rabbit faces.

D.W.: Hh!

Mrs. Read: But that’s okay. You can stay here with me.  Hey, would you like to help me change Kate’s diaper? It really needs it.    

She holds Kate’s behind in D.W.'s face.

D.W.: Ugh!  Maybe I should go, after all. Someone has to make sure Arthur doesn’t embarrass the family.

The Read parents smile at each other. Arthur and Buster high-five. Mrs. Baxter hands her son a bag.

Mrs. Baxter: Remember, there’s a box of chocolates in there for Uncle Theo. Oh, and I packed some extra inhalers and insect repellant and a rain poncho and…

Buster: Mom, I’m gonna be fine. It’s only four days.

Mrs. Baxter: Still, my big boy is leaving home.     

They hug. Then Buster brings his bag to the Reads’ car.

Buster: This is gonna be so cool.

Arthur: I know. We’re gonna have so much fun.

Arthur+Buster: Road trip!     

They high-five. Mr. Read fastens Buster’s bag on the roof. Everyone buckles up. Mrs. Read and Mrs. Baxter wave goodbye.

Buster: Bye, Mom!

Arthur: Bye, Pal! Be a good boy!      

Pal barks. Mr. Read starts the engine.

D.W.: Bye, Mom! Bye Kate!      

The car leaves the driveway.    

D.W.: Bye, house! Bye, mailbox! Bye, fence! Bye, tree! Bye, person mowing their lawn! Bye, fire hydrant!

Arthur: D.W.!

The Reads drive through Elwood City.

~~~

The Reads drive on a freeway. Arthur and Buster play cards in the back seat while D.W. plays with a hand puppet in the middle seat.

D.W.: Are we there yet?

Mr. Read: Honey, we’ve only been on the road for half an hour.

Grandma Thora: It’ll take us five hours to get there, so get comfy.

D.W.: How long is five hours?

Buster: It’s like when you watch ten episodes of Mary Moo Cow in a row.

Arthur: Ten boring episodes.

D.W.: There’s no such thing as a boring Mary Moo Cow episode.     

Pause.   

D.W.: I need to go to the bathroom.

Mr. Read: (sighs) Already?     

He activates the indicator and heads towards a rest area.

~~~

Later, Arthur and Buster are reading Bionic Bunny comics in the car. D.W. eats popcorn.

Grandma Thora: I’m really looking forward to getting back to the farm.

Mr. Read: Yeah. Me too.

D.W.: Wait! Have you both been to this farm?

Mr. Read: I spent every summer there when I was a kid.

Grandma Thora: So did I.

Arthur: Wow! That must have been a long time ago.

Grandma Thora: Oh, it was ages ago. Before cellphones and the internet. Even before computer.

Arthur: Yikes!

Buster: The dark ages.

Grandma Thora: Somehow we survived.      

Arthur has his legs crossed.

Arthur: Dad, I need to go!

Mr. Read: What?? But we just stopped. Why didn’t you go then?

Arthur: I didn’t have to go then.

D.W.: No more water for you!   

Mr. Read activates the indicator and heads towards a rest area.

~~~

Shortly afterwards, Arthur leaves the rest area bathroom and joins the others.

Mr. Read: Who wants a glass of juice?

Buster loosens the ropes with which his bag is secured.

Buster: Hey, let’s play checkers! I brought a magnetic travel set.   

He takes the set out of the bag and everyone gets back into the car, leaving the bag unsecured.

~~~

Shortly afterwards, Arthur and Buster play checkers in the car.

Grandma Thora: Uncle John is in the military and he’s stationed overseas, so he won’t be there. But Ryder will be there, and Aunt Chrissy, and new baby Laurie and Cousin Miles.

Arthur: Cousin Ryder is great. I haven’t seen him in four years, but I think we’d be best friends if we lived closer together.    

Buster looks up.    

Arthur: I mean, my other best friend.

Grandma Thora: I love it when the family gets together.

D.W.: Why is Buster here? He’s not family.

Arthur: Yes, he is!  Well… I mean… kind of.

D.W.: Well, if he’s family than Bud is family too and I should get to bring him. Can we pick him up?

Mr. Read: Bud lives too far away, honey.

D.W.: It’s not fair!

Buster: I could kinda be your step older brother.

D.W.: You don’t even look like us. You’re gonna stick out like a sore nose.

Arthur: The expression is “sore thumb”. And stop being mean!

D.W.: I’m not being mean. I’m just telling the truth.   

Buster looks hurt. A raccoon crosses the freeway.

Mr. Read: Whoa!    

He swerves to avoid the raccoon and Buster’s bag falls off the roof. The raccoon walks over to examine it.

Mr. Read: Sorry. A big raccoon was hogging the road.

D.W.: A raccoon? Where?    

The car drives on.     

D.W.: (groans)

D.W. starts singing. The animation style changes and becomes more simple. The Reads appear on animated road signs.

D.W.:                     I'm stuck inside this car

on a trip to somewhere far.

This highway keeps on going,

Cars and trucks with trailers towing.

Only one small lane is open.

See look, the road is broken.

I'm bored, I'm bored,

I'm bored, I'm bored, I'm bored

I'm so bored, are we there yet?

Mr. Read:            Not yet!

But we're really cruising now.

Let's play I Spy. I spy a cow.

Isn't that exciting?

Hey, can you guys please stop fighting?

D.W.:                     I'm bored, I'm bored,

I'm bored, I'm bored, I'm bored.

I'm so bored, are we there yet?

The signs say stop and eat.

I need to get out of my seat.

This road will never end

Hey! What's that around the bend?

The car stops at a train crossing.

D.W.:                     Ugh!

I'm bored, I'm bored,

I'm bored, I'm bored, I'm bored.

I'm so bored, are we there yet?

Mr. Read:            Not yet.

They pass a sign saying “Ohio welcomes you.”

Mr. Read:            Hey look, we're in Ohio!

Just a couple hours more.

We're still on Route 224.

Would you like to see the map?

D.W.:                     But I can't read. Is this a trap?

It looks like noodles with some dots.

Is that a lake? We must be lost.

Ohio's way too big,

way too flat and way too far.

Please, oh please, oh please,

just let me get out of this car.

I'm going crazy in this maze,

all these detours and delays

Mr. Read:            Why don't you take a nap?

D.W.:                     I'm not tired, here's the map

Mr. Read: Just try counting all those sheep.That will help you fall asleep

D.W.:                     One, two, three, four...

The animation becomes normal again. D.W, Arthur and Buster are sleeping in the car.

D.W.+Arthur+Buster: (snoring)

~~~

Farm, First Day

The car drives over a cattle grid and towards a farm surrounded by cornfields. The kids wake up.

Arthur+Buster: Huh?

D.W.: Huh?

A llama steps in front of the car.

All: Ahh!

D.W.: What’s going on?

Buster: Is it an alien? Ask to speak to its leader.    

D.W. looks delighted at the llama.

D.W.: Aw, it’s so cute! Is it one of those rabbit ponies?  

Mr. Read and Thora get out.

Grandma Thora: That, D.W., is a llama. Llamas love peanut butter sandwiches, just like you guys.    

She gives the llama a sandwich. The llama eats it and spits.

Arthur: And just like we did, he’s spitting out the pickles.

A man with a rope steps out of the corn.

Miles: Hey, how you doing?

Grandma Thora: Hey, did you lose a llama?     

Miles puts the rope over the llama’s head.

Miles: As a matter of fact, I did. How much do I owe you?

Grandma Thora: One big hug.    

They hug.    

Grandma Thora: This is Cousin Miles. We go way back.        

Miles walks up to D.W. in the car.

Miles: That’s true. She used to bounce me on her knee when I was your age. It’s her fault I love trampolines so much. Do you want to pet her?

D.W. opens the window.

D.W.: Okay.     

She pets the llama.

Miles: This is Bernice. She’s gonna have a baby soon.

Mr. Read: Miles!

Miles: David. How you doing?    

They shake hands and hug.

Mr. Read: Glad to be here. This is D.W., Arthur and his friend Buster.

Miles: Welcome everyone.     

Two more llamas come. One has a rooster on its back.

D.W.: Look!

Miles: Oh boy, here they come. The llama squad. Guess they all want to say hello too.   

Thora pets one of the llamas.

Arthur: Should we do something?

Miles: Nah, they’re fine. They’ll follow me back to the barn. I’m a llama whisperer. See you later.     

He leaves with the llamas.

~~~

The Reads drive up to the farmhouse. Aunt Chrissy is standing on the porch with baby Laurie and Ryder, who is about Arthur’s age.

Aunt Chrissy: You made it! We were wondering when you’d get here.

Mr. Read: Oh, we ran into some llamas.

Grandma Thora: I need to see that baby.

Aunt Chrissy: This is Laurie, just up from her nap.    

Mr. Read and Thora walk to the house while Ryder runs to the car.

Grandma Thora: Oh, isn’t she precious?

Ryder: Hey, cousin.

Arthur: Hey, Cousin Ryder.

Arthur+Ryder: It’s been so long! Haha! Jinks!

Ryder: We are gonna have the best time.    

Buster comes out of the car.

Arthur: I know. Oh, Ryder, this is…    

D.W. butts in.

D.W.: I’m your other cousin, D.W.

Ryder: Hey, D.W. Great to meet you.   

They shake hands.

D.W.: That’s Arthur’s friend, Buster. He’s not a Read, he’s a Baxter.

Buster: Hey.

Ryder: Welcome!    

They wave at each other.   

Ryder: Wait! Isn’t there a baby cousin too? Kate?

D.W.: She had to stay home with my mom. I was gonna take care of her too, but I think Mom can handle it.

Ryder: Aw, too bad. Well, if you feel that you need a baby, we’ve got an extra. That’s your baby cousin over there. My sister Laurie.   

He points to the porch where Thora is holding baby Laurie.

D.W.: Hi, Laurie!

Ryder: I love family time. Hey, do you guys want to see my pond museum?

Arthur: Yes!

Buster: Okay.

Ryder: Race you!     

He runs ahead and Arthur and Buster follow. D.W. tries to keep up, but fails.

D.W.: Hey!

Mr. Read: D.W.! Come over here and meet everybody.

D.W. walks to the porch.

Aunt Chrissy: I’m your Aunt Chrissy. Did those boys just run off and leave you behind?   

D.W. nods.   

Aunt Chrissy: Ha! Typical!

Grandma Thora: Meet baby Laurie.

Laurie: (laughs)

Grandma Thora: Isn’t she sweet?

D.W.: Wow, she’s even smaller than Kate!  Ugh! But she smells just like her! Must be the stinky diaper.

Aunt Chrissy: Oo-hoohoohoo. I’ll go change that now. Who wants lemonade?

D.W.: Me!

Grandma Thora: I’d love some.

Mr. Read holds the door open and Thora and Chrissy go inside with Laurie. D.W. looks around and sees a lizard clinging to the wall.

D.W.: Yaaah!    

She jumps back.

Mr. Read: Come meet your Granduncle Theo.

~~~

Mr. Read leads D.W. around the house where an old man is sitting.

Granduncle Theo: I’m Theo, the birthday boy. Let’s see that handshake.    

They shake hands.

D.W.: Hi.

Granduncle Theo: Whoa!  Quite a grip. Go easy on me.  What’s your name?

D.W.: D.W. It stands for…

Granduncle Theo: Dora Winifred.

D.W.: How did you know?

Granduncle Theo: That was my sister’s name. You were named after her.

D.W.: I was??

Granduncle Theo: Yep. She was a tough cookie. Used to pick up your dad by his shorts. (chuckles)

Mr. Read: (laughs)

D.W.: She did?

Mr. Read: Oh yeah. Er, she also taught me how to roast a chicken.

Granduncle Theo: Those two used to cook together all the time. She died before you were born.

Chrissy brings Mr. Read and D.W. of lemonade.

Aunt Chrissy: Lemonade.

D.W.: Are there any cousins here of my age?

Aunt Chrissy: Sorry, sweetie.

Granduncle Theo: There aren’t any my age either, so you and I will have to stick together.    

They clink glasses.

~~~

Miles sits under a tree by the pond and writes in a notebook.

Miles: (hums a tune)

Ryder holds a rope which is attached to another tree right by the water’s edge.

Ryder: Watch this!       

He swings over the water and back.

Arthur: Whoa!

Buster: Cool!

Ryder: You wanna try?

Arthur: Okay.

Ryder: Don’t worry about falling in. I mean, you’ll get wet but that pond is really deep.   

Arthur swings.

Arthur: Ah-ah-ah… I’m slipping!  Ah!       

He lands back on the jetty.    

Arthur: Oof.  Ow.

Ryder: Are you okay?

Arthur: Ha! I’m fine. Just got a little rope burn.

Buster: My turn!    

He swings. 

Buster: Woo-hoo-hoo-hoo!    Cool!

Arthur: What grade are you in?

Ryder: Going into fourth.

Arthur: Me too!

Buster: And me!

Arthur: Didn’t it feel like third grade went on forever?

Ryder: I know. I still look at the fourth-graders and think “Man, they’re so old!” And now… I’m gonna be one!

Buster: Now we’re the big, scary once and it’s the third-graders hiding in the bathroom, right?     

Arthur and Ryder stare at him.

Ryder: Oh. I gotta show you the pond museum.

The boys run around the pond to an assortment of jars and glass boxes standing on old furniture. They contain various animals.

Ryder: Here are minnows. These are tadpoles. Whatever I catch that I really wanna look at, I put in the museum. Then at night I let them go. I had a skink in this one, named Daisy, but she got away.    

He takes a snake out of a box. Arthur ducks behind Buster.

Arthur: Hh!

Ryder: I caught this guy this morning. He’s a milk snake.

Arthur: Whoa! Is that poisonous?

Buster: I bet it is if you’re lactose intolerant. (laughs)   Get it?     

Arthur and Ryder stare at him.

Ryder: Milk snakes aren’t poisonous. And this one’s pretty friendly. Here, wanna hold him?

Arthur: Oh, er… no, thanks.

Ryder: It feels weird at first, but it doesn’t bite.

Buster: I’ll hold him.

Ryder: Here you go. Now, don’t squeeze, just hold him up.     

The snake coils around Buster’s arm.

Buster: Yeah. It’s like a worm, but worse. I wanna scream, but at the same time I… Augh!!      

He makes a jump and drops the snake.

Ryder: Don’t drop him!       

The snake slithers away.

Buster: He was going up my shirt.

Ryder: I’ll let him go.

Buster: Sorry.

Ryder: That’s okay.        

He looks sad.

~~~

Shortly afterwards at the house, the grown-ups watch Theo and D.W. throw horseshoes. D.W. hits the stake.

D.W.: Woo-hoo!

Mr. Read: She’s gonna beat him.

Miles: I hope not. He gets so cranky when he loses.

Theo throws and misses. The boys come running.

Ryder: Mom! We’re going swimming.

Arthur: Where’s our stuff?

Mr. Read: Oh. I’ve been chatting so much, I haven’t taken the bags out of the car yet.

~~~

Shortly afterwards, Arthur opens his suitcase next to the car.

Arthur: Ryder, this is for you. They just came out. They’re gonna be really rare.      

He hands Ryder the toy.   

Arthur: It’s the Dark Bunny Wow Plow from the Motor Mutations line.

Ryder: Wow.

Arthur: I know, right? See? Like this, he’s Dark Bunny, but then he turns into a snow plow. I wanted to get you the helicopter one, but they were out. Do you like it?

Ryder: Yeah. Wow. Thanks.      

Buster feels for his bag on the roof.

Buster: Where is my bag? The orange one?

Mr. Read: It was right on top.

Buster: We didn’t forget it, did we?

Arthur: No, you got your magnetic checkers out of it when we stopped at the rest area.

Mr. Read: Did it get tied down again after that?

Buster: Uh oh.   If it’s not here, then where is it?

Mr. Read: It must have fallen off.

Meanwhile, by the side of the freeway, the racoon is digging through Buster’s bag. It comes out wearing Buster’s old swimming cap.

Meanwhile back at the farm.

Buster: That had all my clothes in it. Hh! My bathing suit! How will I go swimming?

Arthur: I only brought one swimsuit. Sorry.

Miles: Don’t worry, we’ll help you. Ryder, can you get Buster a bathing suit and a T-shirt to borrow?

Ryder: Sure.

Arthur: You might wanna put this inside.      

He gives Ryder the toy.

Ryder: Oh yeah. Good thinking.       

~~~

D.W. throws another horseshoe and hits the stake.

Granduncle Theo: Okay, Dora Winifred, last toss, and then I’m gonna take a rest.

D.W.: You got it!           

Theo throws and misses.

Aunt Chrissy: D.W.! You should take your shoes off and go barefoot.

D.W.: I have a dog at home. We’re not allowed to go barefoot.    

Chrissy takes off her shoes and steps on the grass.

Aunt Chrissy: Well, you can do it here. I know for a fact that we have the softest grass in the world.

D.W.: Okay.      

She kicks off her shoes and walks over the grass.    

D.W.: O-h-h…  It is soft grass.

Aunt Chrissy: (chuckles) Told you.

D.W.: (laughs)  It’s like a tree carpet.

Buster comes onto the porch wearing much too big swimming trunks and a T-shirt. He looks unhappy.

Grandma Thora: How do Ryder’s clothes fit you, Buster? Too big?

Buster: Er… they’re fine, I guess. Sort of. Where’s Arthur and Ryder?

Miles: They went to the pond already. Go join them. I’ll be there in just a sec.

D.W.: Augh!!      

A lizard sits on her bare foot.   

D.W.: Ew! Gross! What is it?!

Granduncle Theo: Looks like there’s something on your foot.

D.W.: Augh! It’s a dinosaur in-between my toes. Get it off! Augh!     

Mr. Read comes over.

Mr. Read: It’s just a lizard, D.W. Hold still.    

He tries to pick up the lizard by the tail and it comes off in his hand. The lizard remains on D.W.’s foot.   

Mr. Read: Oops. Ah, the tail came off.

D.W.: Augh! Get it off me!!      

Mr. Read brushes the lizard off and it scuttles away. D.W. jumps into her dad’s arms.    

D.W.: Ah, it’s gonna eat me!

Mr. Read: It’s okay, D.W. It’s too small to eat you and it’s gone now.

D.W.: And you ripped it’s tail off! I bet it’s really angry now.    

The other grown-ups come and stand around them.

Mr. Read: Lizard tails come off, but then they grow back.    

D.W. looks suspicious.

Aunt Chrissy: It’s true.

Grandma Thora: It’s okay. There’s nothing to be afraid of. Your family is here.

Buster watches them from the porch.

Buster: I guess… I’ll go find Arthur.       

He walks off. Miles notices that he seems upset.

Miles: Hm…

~~~

Buster tries to find his way through the cornfield.

Buster: Was it this way or… this way?      

He lies down and looks at the sky.     

Buster: (moans)  

Bernice the llama bends over him.    

Buster: Augh!!  Oh. Hi, Bernice.     He picks a flower.    Do you want this?   

Bernice brays and walks away.    

Buster: Aw. It figures.       

He lies back again. Then Miles bends over him.

Miles: Hey, Buster. What you doing?

Buster: Nothing.

Miles starts rapping.

Miles:                   I see you. You're down there.

I see you. You don't care.

I see you. You want to share?         Buster gets up.

On the ground,

Make no sound,

It goes around.

You got a frown, there's something in your hair.   Buster removes a corn leaf.

Hands in your pocket, kicking the ground,

Head down when you walk, it's the only sound.

Your smile is wide but turned down to the dirt.

Why do you hide? Did you get hurt?

Buster:                 No!

Miles:                  I'm on your side

You're wearing my shirt

Buster: This is Ryder's shirt.

Miles:Yeah. But where do you think he got it? I gave it to him.

You're coping and you're dealing with it

Hoping, reeling every minute

Concealing and you need to spin it

Feeling like you're kneeling in it

Buster walks away.

Miles: What’s going on?

Buster: I can’t find the swimming pond. I think it’s that way.

Miles: Nope. Over there.

Buster: Ryder and Arthur left me behind. I mean, I get it, they’re cousins, and this is a family gathering and I don’t really belong here.

Miles: Why don’t you think you belong?

Buster: Because I’m just a friend. I’m not family. I’m not related to anyone here.

Miles: I’m not related to anyone here either.

Buster: You’re not??

Miles: No. I grew up in Cleveland. But I’ve been here so long, these people became my family. You don’t have to be a blood relative to be family.

Miles puts Buster on Bernice’s back.

Miles:                  Uncle, brother, call me cousin

Six of one, half a dozen.

Never mind the family tree.

There are many kinds of family

Sister, mister, auntie, niece.

Can't resist the family feast.

When you're hurt or need a snack,

Here's the shirt right off my back

Family is a state of mind,

So take your place, relax, unwind.

If you look I think you'll see

There are many kinds of family

Miles leads Bernice with Buster to the pond where Arthur and Ryder are climbing a tree.

Buster: Thanks. I totally thought the pond was over there.

Miles: No, that’s the manure pit.

Buster runs to join his friends, waving back at Miles.

Miles:                  I see you as you are.

I see you come so far.

I see you. Raise the bar.

You belong, come along, sing your song

You are strong.

You're a shooting star.

Bernice: (tries to sing)

Miles: (laughs)

~~~

Buster runs over to Arthur and Ryder.

Arthur: There you are. Where’d you go?

Ryder: Watch this!      

He swings on the rope and drops into the water.    

Ryder: Oh. It’s cold.   Not really. Your turn.

Arthur: Er…

Ryder: It’s easy. Come on! Cousin power!

Arthur: Okay. Here goes.  

He takes off his glasses and puts them on the jetty.   

Arthur: Cousin… power!     Augh!  

He swings and drops into the water.         

Arthur: I did it! Buster, come in! I think I swallowed a tadpole, but it’s great.

Buster: Okay, here I come!      

He takes a few steps back to get a running start. Arthur and Ryder move aside.

Ryder: No, don’t run!

Buster: Cousin power blast-off!    

He has too much momentum and hangs on to the rope.     

Buster: Ohh! Oh no!!       

He crashes against the jetty. Arthur and Ryder wince. Buster holds his foot.    

Buster: Ow!

~~~

Some time later, the Reads’ car stands in front of a medical clinic. Mr. Read opens the car door, while Arthur holds open the buidling door and helps Buster to the car. Buster is wearing a suspensory bandage on his foot.

Arthur: At least you didn’t break anything.

Buster: No, just a cut. But I can’t go swimming for a few days.

Arthur: We’ll do something else. Swinging from that rope wasn’t that fun anyway.    

He fiddles his glasses, indicating that he is not telling the truth.

Buster: I don’t know. I thought it was pretty fun. Until it wasn’t.

Arthur: I’m sure we could find some games in the house we can all play.

Buster: It’s okay, Arthur. You can still go swimming with Ryder. I brought tons of comics.   Oh, wait.

Meanwhile, the raccoon is tearing up the comics from Buster’s bag.

Buster (narrator): I hope someone’s enjoying them somewhere.

Back at the medical clinic.

Buster: This trip just isn’t turning out how I thought it would.    

Arthur and his dad help Buster into the car.     

Buster: (groans)

~~~

Meanwhile, D.W. sits on Granduncle Theo’s knee on the porch. She is showing him her stuffed animals.

D.W.: They’re twins. Like the Tibbles, but Uni is one millabillasecond older. And she never lets Fluff McGuffin forget it.

Granduncle Theo: That was just like my sister Dora. She was only a year older, but she was the boss.  (chuckles)

D.W.: Am I a lot like her?    

Theo looks thoughtful.

Granduncle Theo: Hey, how do you feel about spinach.

D.W.: Bleugh!

Granduncle Theo: (laughs)  You’re the spitting image.    Hey, wanna see a picture of her?

D.W.: Yeah!

~~~

Theo takes D.W. to a room below the roof. The ceiling is painted with clouds and stars and a model plane hangs from it. There is an old black-and-white photograph on a table.

Granduncle Theo: This is the room Dora and I shared when we were kids.

They go to the photograph. It shows a boy and a slightly older girl with freckles. Both are holding soda bottles.

D.W.: Wow! She looks just like me. Except, I’m not black and white.

Granduncle Theo: (chuckles)  This photo was taken around eighty years ago. We were drinking Piccadilly’s Grape, only five cents a bottle. I can almost taste it.

Mr. Read (downstairs): D.W., wanna say hello to Mom?

D.W.: Come on, let’s talk to Mom!    

~~~

Arthur, D.W. and Theo have a video conversation on the porch using a laptop computer.

Mrs. Read (on laptop): Happy birthday, Theo.

Granduncle Theo: Thank you, Jane.

D.W.: When are you coming? Kate looks much better now.

Mrs. Read (on laptop): I know, but she’s still feeling a little punky.

D.W.: Did you give her chicken soup? What about strawberry ice-cream? It’s the best kind for colds.

Mrs. Read (on laptop): I’m taking very good care of her, Nurse D.W.         

Pal sticks his head in the camera.     

Mrs. Read (on laptop): Oops. Looks like someone wants to say hello.

Arthur: Hi, Pal! It’s me!      

Pal licks the camera.

D.W.: Hey, I was talking!

Mrs. Read (on laptop): Well, I should let you all go.

D.W.: Wait! Um, excuse me, but I need to talk to Mom in private.

Granduncle Theo: Got you. Come on, let’s help Miles and your dad with dinner.

Arthur: Bye, Mom! Bye, Kate! Bye, Pal!         

He leaves with Theo.

D.W.: I wanna come home.

Mrs. Read (on laptop): Why? Don’t you like spending time with the family?

D.W.: I do. Especially Great-Granduncle Theo. He’s funny and he smells like apples.

Mrs. Read (on laptop): Then… what is it?

D.W.: It’s not like home. There are too many trees outside. And there’s this lizard. He’s after me. He lost his tail and he thinks it’s my fault.

Mrs. Read (on laptop): I know it’s hard, D.W., but I want you to try to be brave and…    

The image freezes.

D.W.: Mom?     Mom?     

She presses keys.     

D.W.: Help! Mom is frozen in the computer!   

Aunt Chrissy comes out.

Aunt Chrissy: Oh, that happens all the time. Our internet service cuts in and out. We can try again later.    

She closes the laptop. Miles comes out, banging a spoon on a pan.

Miles: Hear ye! Hear ye! Dinner is served!

~~~

Shortly afterwards, everyone is having dinner at a long table in the kitchen.

Aunt Chrissy: Want some applesauce, Laurie?

Grandma Thora: Mm. These beans taste so fresh.

Buster: This is great pasta. What is it?

Mr. Read: I call it Everything-in-the-Fridge pasta.

Miles: It’s our specialty. But save some room for We-Didn’t-Have-a-Chance-to-Shop desert.

Arthur: Hey, did you check out the Wow Plow yet?

Ryder: The what?

Arthur: You know, the Dark Bunny Motor Mutations action figure I bought you.

Ryder: Oh, yeah. It’s super-cool.    Hey, I’m really sorry about your foot. I should have told you sooner not to run.

Buster: I’m sorry I lost your milk snake.

Ryder: That’s okay. He’s probably somewhere in the house.

D.W.: What?? There’s a snake in the house??

Ryder: Or maybe he’s outside.

Arthur: Don’t worry. Milk snakes don’t bite.

D.W.: They still go slippery-slidey on the floor and can curl up in your hair.

Granduncle Theo: I agree. I’m glad I’m bald. Never thought I’d say that.

Ryder: Hey, I got a surprise for you guys. Mom, can I show them?

Aunt Chrissy: Okay. But I want you boys to help with the dishes.       

Ryder runs to the door.

Ryder: You got it.    Come on, you two!     

Arthur runs to the door, Buster hobbles after him.

Buster: Go on! I’ll get there eventually.      

Arthur and Ryder leave. Buster follows, looking sad.

~~~

Farm, Night

Buster slowly reaches the bar. Ryder is up on the hayloft holding three sleeping bags.

Ryder: Awesome, right?

Arthur: Yeah.  We get to sleep in the hayloft tonight.

Buster: Cool.     

He tries to climb the stairs.    

Buster: Ow! Ah. I’m not sure I can climb this ladder.

Ryder: I know. We can attach this hook to your belt and pull you up.

Arthur: I’m not sure that’s such a good idea. We’ll just stay in the house.

Ryder: Oh. Okay.

Buster: You two don’t have stay in the house just because of me.

Arthur: Are you sure?

Buster: Of course. I’ll be fine. I bet I’ll get a whole room to myself.

~~~

At night, Buster shares Theo’s and Dora’s old bedroom with D.W. She makes a barrier in the middle of the room using books and toys.

D.W.: Now, this is my side and that’s your side. If you wanna come over to this side, you have to use the secret password.

Buster: What is it?

D.W.: Hello. If I told you, it wouldn’t be a secret.

Buster: Oh.

D.W.: And no snoring!   Wait! We forgot to check the room for snakes and lizards. That’s your job.

Buster: (sighs)  Okay.

Buster searches under the table, in a drawer, behind the curtains, under his pillow and under his bed.

Buster: I found something.

D.W.: Is it a snake?

Buster: Nope. Just this bottle.      

He pulls out an old Piccadilly bottle.

D.W.: Hey, you didn’t check my side!

Buster: I don’t know the password.

D.W.: It’s “pickles”. But I’m changing it right after you check.

Buster: Pickles.

D.W.: You may enter.

Buster steps over the barrier and checks under D.W.’s bed.

Buster: Congratulations. You’re snake and lizard-free.

D.W.: Phew.    

She turns over in bed and waves Buster away.

~~~

While the light goes off in the bedroom, a flashlight goes on in the hayloft. Ryder and Buster lie in sleeping bags on bales of hay.

Ryder: Isn’t this great?

Arthur: Yeah. I’ve never slept on hay before.   Ugh. Kind of lumpy.

Ryder: I find it super-comfy.

Arthur: Hey. This is just like that Dark Bunny episode. You know, where the haystack monster comes after him and he turns his utility belt into a giant pitchfork.

Ryder: (giggles)  Right.

Arthur: Dark Bunny is so cool.

Ryder: Yeah. He’s way cooler than Light Bunny.

Arthur: Who’s Light Bunny.

Ryder: Oh, er… I don’t know. I just thought there was… I guess I haven’t seen a lot of episodes.

Arthur hears a noise.

Arthur: Hh! What was that?

Ryder: Oh, that was just the barn owl.     

He shines his flashlight on an owl sitting on a rafter.        

Ryder: There he is. See? He keeps the mice away.    (yawns)    

He turns off the light and lies down again.   

Ryder: Well, goodnight, cousin.

Arthur: Goodnight, cousin.     

The owl screeches loudly. Its eyes glow in the dark. Arthur pulls the sleeping bag over his nose.

~~~

Later, Buster and D.W. lie in bed. Buster is wearing oversized pajamas and he is sweating.

Buster: Oh!  It’s so hot in here!  I feel like I’m melting.  Can we please open the window?

D.W.: No! The snakes and lizards will come in. If you’re hot, try thinking of something cold.

Buster: (groans)  Okay.   Brrrrrr…

D.W.: What are you doing?

Buster: I’m thinking of our air conditioner. That’s the sound it makes.

D.W.: You need to get that fixed. Think of something quieter, like a breeze.

Buster: I’ve got a better idea.     

He gets up.

D.W.: Where’re you going?

Buster: To the porch. Where there might be a real breeze.

D.W.: Wait! You can’t leave me here alone.      

She picks up Uni and follows him.

~~~

Buster goes out on the porch, followed by D.W.

Buster: Ah… That’s much better.

D.W.: What’s that noise?

Buster: Crickets. We have them back in Elwood City too, but they seem louder here.     They take a few steps into the yard.     Look at all those stars!

D.W.: Wow!  Why are there more of them here?

Buster: There aren’t. You can just see them better. Look, there’s the big dipper! And there’s the little dipper, and there’s the little pot of corn chowder.

D.W.: I can’t see the pot.

Buster: It helps if you’re hungry.        A shooting star! Make a wish.     D.W. closes her eyes.

D.W.: My wish didn’t come true. I’m still here.     They go back to the house.

Buster: Homesick?     D.W. nods and they sit down on the steps.       Yeah, me too.

D.W.: If you had to stay here or go home right now, which would you choose.

Buster starts singing.

Buster:                 Home or here?

It's no choice,

I'd go home and I'd rejoice.

My clothes, my food, my own bed,

My special goggles – infrared.

Home is where I want to be.

They lie down and look at the sky. Images of what they are singing about appear as constellations.

D.W.:                     And for me,

a preschooler,

Home has all my clothes and things,

My magic princess sparkle wings.

Crusts are cut right from my toast.

At home it's Mom that I miss most

Buster:                 Mom. Oh, Mom.

D.W.:                     Oh, Mom.

Buster:                 She gives hugs, she's sometimes calm.

D.W.:                     So calm.

Buster:                 I spit my gum into her palm.

I'll sing a song for dear ol'...

D.W.                      Mom, it's true.

Buster:                 It's true.

D.W.:                     She lets me use her new shampoo.

Buster:                 Shampoo.

D.W.:                     And stumble in her high-heeled shoe.

She always knows just what to...

A shooting star zooms through constellations showing D.W. and Buster with their moms. The constellations disappear.

D.W: That was a huge shooting spark!

Buster: (chuckles) Shooting star.

D.W.: Whatever. I've never seen one that big!

Buster: Yeah. We don't see them like that at home.

They go on singing.

Buster:                 Here or home?

On second thought

Here are shooting stars - a lot.

Flashbacks appear of the events of the day.

Buster:                Past the cornfields and beyond,

Skinks and snakes down at the pond,

Llama rides through meadow land,

D.W.:                     Playing horseshoes on demand

With Uncle Theo, great and grand.

D.W. now sits on a swing under a tree.

D.W.:                    Here my dad played when he was younger.

It's not so bad, it makes me wonder

Buster:                 Home or here?

It makes me think.

D.W.:                     Yeah, like what the heck's a skink?

Buster:                 Home is the place to hold dear

D.W.+Buster:     But there are new things for us here

They sit down on a couch on the porch. D.W. covers herself with a blanket that is lying there.

Buster: (yawns)  Goodnight. Sleep tight. Don’t let the…

D.W.: Don’t say it.

~~~

Meanwhile, Ryder is fast asleep in the hayloft while Arthur has pulled his sleeping bag up to his ears. He peeks out and sees the owl’s glowing eyes.

Arthur: Quit staring at me.  Go on! Shoo! Shoo! Blagga-blagga-blagga-blagga-blagga-blaggablag!   

The owl screeches back.    

Arthur: Hh!

Arthur runs to the ladder and climbs down. Then he runs over to the house.

~~~

Farm, Second Day

The next morning, a bird feeds its young. Buster and D.W. are asleep on the porch, D.W. with her head in Buster’s lap.

D.W.: (snores)    

Buster wakes up and goes inside.

~~~

Miles is making pies in the kitchen when Buster comes in.

Buster: (yawns)

Miles: Hey, Buster. How’d you sleep?

Buster: Not bad. That couch on the porch is actually really comfortable. But I think D.W. might have drooled on your pajamas. Are we having pie for breakfast?

Miles: This is for Theo’s big birthday lunch today. Here, have a rhubarb muffin. Hot out of the oven. That’s the prize for being the second one up.        

Buster tries a Muffin.

Buster: Mmm.

Meanwhile, D.W. is still asleep. The tailless lizard sits on her blanket, watching her.

D.W.: (snores)       

D.W. wakes up and sees the lizard.    

D.W.: Augh!!

Buster: I love rhubarb.         

D.W. comes running in.      

D.W.: Augh! Augh!        

She runs up the stairs.

Miles: Hm. I guess D.W.’s up too.

~~~

D.W. goes up into Theo’s old bedroom and finds Arthur asleep in her bed.

D.W.: Out of my bed!!

Arthur: Huh? What?    Good morning to you too.    

He gets up and D.W. gets into bed.   

Arthur: (yawns)

D.W.: You tell that lizard, if I see him one more time, I’m leaving!      

She lies down. Arthur walks into the hallway.

Arthur: I’ll make sure he gets the message.    

David, Thora and Theo look out of their bedrooms.

Mr. Read: What’s going on?

Grandma Thora: Is everything alright?

Arthur: D.W. just saw a lizard.

Grandma Thora: (chuckles)      

She and her son go back into their rooms.

Granduncle Theo: Sneaky little critters. I’ll get my lizard catcher.

Arthur walks past Ryder's bedroom and sees the box with the toy unopened on the bed.

Arthur: Hm?        

He walks into the room.

~~~

Most of the family is sitting on the porch. Theo shows D.W. a flower pot and a piece of cardboard.

Granduncle Theo: Next time you see that lizard, you slap this over him. Then, you carefully slide the cardboard underneath and dump him in the yard. That’s how you use the patented Theodore Read lizard catcher. Haha. Think you can handle it?

D.W.: I think I got it.

Miles finishes his coffee mug and addresses Buster and Ryder who are sitting on the couch.

Miles: Hey, you boys want to check on Bernice with me?

Buster: I’ll come.

Ryder: I wanna wait for Arthur. He wasn’t in the loft when I woke up and I haven’t seen him all morning.

Miles: Come on, Baxterbuddy. I’ll teach you the llama song.  (sings:)   “Oh mama llama / in your furry pajamas / I hope your baby comes / without a lot of drama.”

Buster: (giggles)      

He follows Miles.

Arthur comes out onto the porch with the unpacked toy.

Ryder: There you are. I was looking all over for you.

Arthur: Yeah, that owl was freaking me out. He screeched at me.

Ryder: Really? I didn’t hear him. I guess I’m used to it.     

Arthur puts the toy on the couch beside Ryder.

Arthur: Here.

Ryder: What’s that?

Arthur: The Dark Bunny Wow Plow I got you. Which was still in his box.     

He looks disappointed.

Ryder: Oh, sorry. I was gonna open it, but we were just having so much fun.

Arthur: It’s okay. Look! Here’s how you make it into a robot.      Zzz! K-ch! K-ch!      

He transforms the plow into a robot.    

Arthur: (robot voice:)  Ready for action.   (normal voice:)  Pretty cool, huh?    

Ryder smiles unconvincingly.

Ryder: Um… Yeah.   Hey, wanna see a real snowplow? It’s in the shed. I’ve driven it a few times. We’ve also got this really cool riding lawnmower…      

He walks off without paying attention to the toy.

Arthur: You don’t really like this, do you?

Ryder: Well… I don’t watch a lot of TV. I mean, we have a TV, but it’s kind of boring.

Arthur: What about comics?

Ryder: Eh. I mean, why read comics when you can swing on a rope swing.

Arthur: My arm still hurts from that thing.

Ryder: That doesn’t happen once you get the hang of it.       

The boys sit down on the couch.

Arthur: Maybe… we don’t have as much in common as we thought.

Ryder: I guess not.

Arthur: But we’re still cousins.

Ryder: Right.

Arthur+Ryder: Cousin power!      

They touch their fists together.

Arthur: I’m gonna see if the shower’s free.

Ryder: Okay. Towels are in the hall closet.    

Arthur goes inside. Both boys look sad.

~~~

Miles and Buster stand at the llama shed, which is within the cornfields, not far from the house. Bernice seems to be having a conversation with another llama.

Miles: Should be any day now.

Buster: What are you gonna name the baby?

Miles: If it’s a boy: Taylor. If it’s a girl… ah, I don’t know yet.    

A third llama walks up to Buster with a rooster on its back.

Buster: That doesn’t look like a llama.

Miles: (chuckles)  That’s just Henry.     

The rooster crows.    

Miles: He loves the llamas and the llamas love him. I think he think’s he’s protecting Bernice.

Buster: Weird.

Miles: Yeah. Henry might not look like a llama, but they think of each other as family. Kind of like me and the Reads.        

Buster smiles.

~~~

Later that day, two cars with more family members drive up to the house. The people get out and walk towards the house, where Theo, Thora, David and D.W. are waiting.

Granduncle Theo: Cousin Jimmy. So glad you could make it.  

They hug.

Cousin Jimmy: Happy birthday, Theo.     

A woman comes with an elderly lady.

Granduncle Theo: (laughs)  And there’s Lorraine.

Grandma Thora: Lorraine. You haven’t aged a day.     

They hug.

Aunt Lorraine: Oh, Thora, you always were such a good liar.       

David walks up to a strict-looking woman.

Mr. Read: Minnie!

Aunt Minnie: No need to hug. I just saw you last week.

Mr. Read: Right.        

D.W. is carrying her lizard catcher.

D.W.: Hi, Aunt Minnie.

Aunt Minnie: Hello, Niece D.W. What you got there?

D.W.: This is my lizard catcher. Theo made it for me. Don’t be scared, but there’s a lot of creepy-crawlies around here.        

She walks to the house with Minnie. David smiles.

Aunt Minnie: Ah. I remember that from summers here. That’s why I packed extra bug spray.

~~~

A while later, Arthur and Ryder set the table while Miles stands at the grill.

Miles: What shall we grill first. Miles’ super-succulent sweet sausages or Mile’s saucy sizzling spicy sausages?

Arthur/Ryder: Sweet!  / Spicy!

Arthur: Oh… er… spicy’s fine.

Ryder: So is sweet. I don’t mind.

Arthur: W-we’ll go with what you want.

Ryder: No, no, your’re the guest.

Arthur/Ryder: Spicy!  /  Sweet!

Miles: We’ll just split them down the middle.

Meanwhile, Buster talks to Lorraine’s mother.

Lorraine’s Mother: Who’s son are you?

Buster: Oh, I’m not a Read, I’m a Baxter.

Lorraine’s Mother: A what? You have to speak up.    

She points to a hearing aid.

Buster: I’m a Baxter!

Lorraine’s Mother: You’re an actor? What have I seen you on?

Buster: No, no. I’m Arthur’s friend.  I’m with Arthur!

Lorraine’s Mother: ‘Arthur’? Never seen it. Hey, Lorraine, this cousin is on some show called ‘Arthur’.

Buster: Oh…     

He facepalms.

Meanwhile, D.W. stands among the grown-ups who are talking on the porch.

Cousin Jimmy: This house hasn’t changed a bit.

Aunt Chrissy: Have the…        

D.W. touches Jimmy’s legs.

D.W.: Hi, I’m D.W.

Cousin Jimmy: Wanna get your cousin Jimmy another ice tea?

D.W.: Okay.   Excuse me! Coming through! I’m on an ice tea mission.

She squeezes through the crowd to get to the table with a jug of ice tea and some snacks. As she reaches for the jug, she sees the tailless lizard on the wall.

D.W.: Ah!     You!  My lizard catcher! Where’d I put it?    

She looks around, then she empties a bowl of peanuts and tries to catch the lizard with the bowl.      

D.W.: Ahh!  Grr!   Stay still!     

On the third try, she traps the lizard.   

D.W.: Got you! Hope I didn’t hurt him. Lizard?    

She looks under the bowl and the lizard runs up her arm and into her hair.    

D.W.: Aughh!!      

She runs to her dad who is talking to Lorraine. The lizard falls of.     

D.W.: Help! He’s in my hair! He was on me!

Mr. Read: Aha. Of course, with three kids in the car we had to make a million stops. And then we just took…

D.W.: Dad! He was in my hair!

Buster: I know, sweetie, but he’s gone now and you’re interrupting, hm? Why don’t you see if you can find Arthur?        

D.W. walks off looking annoyed.

Mr. Read: Hey, are you still working at the bakery? I used to love…

~~~

D.W. goes into the kitchen where Thora and Chrissy are preparing the food.

Aunt Chrissy: Mac and cheese coming through.

D.W.: Grandma, I saw that lizard again.

Grandma Thora: Well, keep him out of the kitchen, we’ve got too many chefs as it is.

D.W.: Grrr.

~~~

D.W. goes up to Theo’s old room where Uni and Fluff are sitting on the bed.

D.W.: That’s it! Pack up, you two! We’re leaving!

~~~

Minnie comes onto the porch with a present.

Aunt Minnie: Can’t we do presents now? I feel silly holding this thing.

Aunt Chrissy: Oh. Um… Okay.    

She claps her hands.    

Aunt Chrissy: Present time, everyone!

Minnie gives Theo the present.

Aunt Minnie: Here, it’s a heating pad. I have one just like it and it helps with sciatica. Here’s the receipt if you want to return it.

Granduncle Theo: How thoughtful.

Miles: I got you something too. But I think it should wait until after lunch.     

Theo nods. Arthur brings a present. Buster stops him.

Miles: Arthur, I don’t have a present. The Box of Patrick’s Chocolates I brought for Theo was in my bag. Who knows where it is now.

By the side of the freeway, the raccoon sits next to an empty box of chocolates, holding its belly. It is wearing Buster’s swimming trunks on its head.

Back at the farm.

Arthur: Don’t worry about it. You don’t have to give him a present.

Buster: But everyone else is giving him presents. I don’t want to be the only one without one.

Arthur: We could say this is from both of us. It’s a clay teapot I made. My name’s on it, though.

Buster reaches into his pocket.

Buster: I have thirty-five cents, a rubber band and an eraser. You think Theo would like an eraser.

Arthur: I think he’d rather have the thirty-five cents.

Buster: Oh…       

He looks around.     

Buster: Tell everyone I’ll be right back. I’ve got and idea.

~~~

Buster picks some flowers in a field.

Buster: Ah. It’ll have to do.      

He ties the flowers together with his rubber band.

On his way back, he sees the milk snake peeping out of an old can. When Buster tries to pick it up, it slithers away.

Buster: Ahh!

Buster runs to the house and tries to put the flowers into a glass, but it tips over.

Buster: Whoa!      

Theo just received a present from Lorraine.

Granduncle Theo: Hey, a thermos. Can’t have too many of those.

Buster: Oh, I know.

~~~

Buster runs up the stairs and passes D.W. who is coming down with her packed backpack.

D.W.: Bye! I’m going home!

Buster: Okay. See you later.

Buster runs into the bedroom and puts the flowers in the old bottle that he found under the bed.

~~~

On the porch, Theo has just unpacked an ugly cardigan from Lorraine’s mother.

Granduncle Theo: Another Cardigan. I’ll save this for special occasions.  Okay! Let’s have lunch!

Buster: Wait!  (pants)   I just wanted to give you these. I brought you chocolates, but they were lost with my bag.  I’m Buster.

Granduncle Theo: I know who you are. You’re Arthur’s friend. How’s that foot feeling? I heard you had a run-in with a rope swing.

Buster: Much better.   Sorry. I know it’s not the best present.

Granduncle Theo: This is a bottle of Piccadilly’s Grape. They haven’t sold these in over sixty years. Where did you find it?

Buster: Under my bed in the upstairs guestroom.

Granduncle Theo: That used to be Dora’s and my room. This bottle might have been there since we were kids.     This present means so much to me. Thank you, Buster.

Buster: You’re welcome. Thanks for having me. I know this was sort of a Read family reunion, and I’m not a Read.

Granduncle Theo: Well, we just have to remedy this.      

He picks up his cane and touches Buster’s shoulders, as if dubbing him a knight.    

Granduncle Theo: Modimus podimus ipso facto hocus pocus inky dinky doo. As the patriarch of all Reads everywhere, I hereby proclaim Buster a member of the family.

All: (cheer)

Buster: Hey, Arthur, we’re cousins!

Granduncle Theo: Where’s D.W.? I wanna show her this bottle.

Buster: Oh, I passed her in the hall upstairs. She said she was going home.   Wait a minute!    

David looks worried and goes into the house.

Mr. Read: D.W.!

Arthur: She’s probably just being dramatic. She says thinks like that all the time.

Aunt Minnie: I see her.    

She points to D.W. who is walking down the driveway.

Arthur: I’ll get her.

Aunt Minnie: That’s okay. I need to stretch anyway.       

She runs after D.W.

~~~

Minnie catches up with D.W. near the llama stable.

Aunt Minnie: (pants)  Hi.

D.W.: Aunt Minnie.

Aunt Minnie: I heard you were leaving. It’s a long trip to Elwood City. You want company?

D.W.: Okay.

Aunt Minnie: Hold up a sec. I’m forty years older than you. These legs need to rest.       

She leans against a gate.   

Aunt Minnie: So, why are you leaving?

D.W.: No one pays attention to me here.

Aunt Minnie: I’m familiar with that feeling.

D.W.: It’s like I don’t even exist.

Aunt Minnie: Might as well be invisible.

D.W.: Exactly.

Aunt Minnie: Until you’re not there, then everyone’s like “Where’s D.W.? Have you seen her? Why isn’t she here?”

D.W.: Is that what they were saying?

Aunt Minnie: Oh yeah. Everyone was worried. I told them to relax. You need your space.

D.W.: Right.

Aunt Minnie: Hh. That’s the think about being in a family. Even when no one’s paying attention to you, you’re still an important part of it. Without you, it’s just not complete.

A screeching his heard from the llama stables.

D.W.: Hh!

Aunt Minnie: Quick! Go get Miles!

~~~

D.W. runs back to the house. Miles is doing the barbeque.

D.W.: Miles! Miles! The llama needs you!

Miles: What?? Right now??    

He tosses David the fork.      

Miles: David, you’re on sausage duty! It’s baby time.

~~~

Shortly afterwards, Miles, Minnie, Theo and the kids stands around a baby llama in the stable.

Aunt Minnie: What a beauty.

Arthur: Look at her.

Aunt Minnie: What’s her name, Miles?

Miles: Since D.W. was the first on the scene, I think she should name her.

D.W.: Me?? I get to name the llama?

Miles: Sure.    

D.W. thinks.

D.W.: Dora.    

Theo smiles.    

D.W.: Her name is Dora.

Granduncle Theo: Hello, Dora. Welcome to the family.

~~~

Later, the family are in the yard.

Granduncle Theo: Thank you all. This has been a truly spectacular birthday.

Miles: You still have one more present coming to you. This is a song I wrote for you. About how I feel being a part of this family.    I, er… could use a little music to back me up.

Aunt Chrissy: Ryder, go get your trumpet.

Ryder: What?

Mr. Read: Arthur, why don’t you play piano. Arthur is very good at the piano.

Arthur: No, I’m not.

Arthur+Ryder: (complain simultaneously)

Ryder: Mom, come on!

Arthur: I haven’t practiced and there’s so man people here and I’m no good.

Ryder: I don’t even know where my trumpet is!

Arthur: It’s not fair!      

David and Chrissy give them stern looks.

Arthur+Ryder: (sigh)     

They walk towards the house with identical looks on their faces.

Arthur: Hey, I guess we do have something in common.

Ryder: Yeah, we hate it when our parents put us on the spot.

~~~

Shortly afterwards, everyone is gathered at the garden table and on the porch. Arthur is sitting at a piano on the porch and Ryder has his trumpet.

Miles: Now, Arthur, give me a groove. Some rhythm from the piano.

Arthur: Um… Like this?      

He starts playing.

Miles: Yeess.  But keep it going.  Good.   Ryder, give me some accents, like…

Ryder: I know.       

He starts playing. Chrissy holds her cellphone in front of Miles.

Miles: Yeah, that’s it.  You’re gonna video this?

Aunt Chrissy: It’s for Uncle John. I know he’d love to be here.

Miles: Everybody’s looking at me. Now I’m nervous.

Granduncle Theo: Just sing it.

Miles: Alright. Here goes:

Here around this picnic table,

In their places, young and able.

See the faces, old and stable,

All related, it's like a fable.

Someone puts a plate of cookies in front of D.W., but the relations around her are quicker. Theo gives her his cookie.

Miles:                  At the table here for years,

The food is served, then disappears.

Someone sets, someone clears,

But everybody volunteers

Yeah, everybody volunteers

It's Uncle What and Auntie Who,  

They visit every month or two.

When is it ever not a feast?

Pick over the leftovers at least.

And Grandma Where and Cousin When.

Remember how it was back then?

It's always fine to bring your friends.

Even... vegetarians.

He serves Minnie some vegs. Several family members start dancing.

Miles:                  We come from far and wide on.

Your shoulders that we ride on,

The sons you keep your eye on,

The soldiers we rely on,

The daughters taking care of business

Do their share of the children in our care for.

That's who we are there for.

Yeah, yeah, that's who we are there for.

Cousin Jam!

Arthur and Ryder play.

Aunt Minnie: Hey, they’re pretty good together.

Miles: Buster, you’re up!

Buster:                Family is a state of mind,

So take your place, relax unwind.

Miles:                  If you look I think you'll see,

There are many kinds of family.

Now this is what I call family, y’all. Whoo!

So here around the picnic table

In their places, young and able,

Old and stable, you can see.

If you're here, you're family .

Miles+Buster:   If you're here, you're family

They finish and everybody claps. A car horn honks. D.W. looks up and sees her mom and Kate who just arrived in a taxi. D.W. runs to her.

D.W.: Mom! I knew you would come!    

They hug.

Mrs. Read: Have you been having a good time?

D.W.: Oh, yeah. It was great, and Aunt Minnie is here, and guess what! Bernice the llama had a baby and I named her! Her name is Dora, just like me, and she’s beautiful.      

She leads her mom to the house.