War of the Worms

"War of the Worms"
Season/Series:	12
Number in season:	7a
Original Airdate:	April 21, 2009 February 6, 2009 April 15, 2009 November 21, 2012
Credits
Written by:	Gentry Menzel
Storyboard by:	Elise Benoit Elie Klimos Zhigang Wang Sylvie Lafrance
Episodes
Previous "Matchmaker, Match Breaker"	Next "I Owe You One"
Read transcript

"War of the Worms" is the first half of the seventh episode in the twelfth season of Arthur.

Summary

Brain is always taking the fun out of Fern's storytelling by correcting her facts. She plans to teach him a lesson by spinning a tall tale that he can't help but believe.

Plot

In a lush, green jungle, a group of children gather around, captivated by a story. Muffy and Arthur eagerly ask about the fate of the intrepid explorer. As Fern's voice narrates her perilous journey, a woman emerges from the bushes, searching for water. However, her relief turns to terror as a giant gorilla appears from the trees, threatening to devour her for lunch. The ground trembles as the gorilla roars and chased her all through the jungle. Just as the gorilla is about to capture her, Brain's voice interrupts the scene. Brain explains that the gorilla is not as fearsome as it seems, and the gorilla shrinks to normal size. The gorilla assures the children that it prefers leaves and fruit to humans, and Brain points out that gorillas cannot speak. As the children and the gorilla watch, the jungle setting disappears, revealing a film studio. The children are disappointed that Brain has ruined Fern's story once again, while the gorilla examines the script, seemingly unimpressed.

War of the Worms

Fern, Arthur, and Francine stood by the bicycle stand in front of Lakewood Elementary, discussing how Brain ruined Fern’s latest story. Fern recalled how Brain had dismissed her tale about a winged goat as unbelievable. Arthur agreed, pointing out the absurdity of a goat with wings. Francine, however, argued that believability wasn't essential for a good story, and she playfully imagined what Brain's stories might be like. In her mind, three nonanthropomorphic pigs roamed the woods, their lack of opposable thumbs preventing them from building houses. Brain's monotone voiceover described their mundane existence, free from the threat of wolves. Back in reality, Francine shuddered at the thought of such a boring story, and she and Arthur left. Fern, determined to provide Brain with a truly realistic tale, pondered possible subjects for her next story.

In Mr. Ratburn's class they are learning about worms. He tells the students to guess what is in a box. They all come up with guesses, mostly based upon their interests. Buster thinks it is a mummified platypus, Muffy thinks it is designer shoes, and Binky thinks that it is worms. Binky's guess is correct. He gets extra credit for the answer.

Ratburn explains to them it is a vermiculture box, where worms are kept. You put your trash in it, and the worms compost it and turn it into soil. Fern wants to know if the worms get bigger if they eat more. Fern thinks that maybe if they eat a lot, they will become too big, and take over Elwood City. Brain calls this idea nonsense, and Mr. Ratburn quotes Carl Sagan. She says that there is no evidence... yet, that is. She whispers to Binky asking him if he would want to help her make one of "the greatest hoax of all time." Binky is in on it.

They go to a fishing bait store, Menzel Bait Shop, and buy buy 800 worms. They say that they are going to use it to make a story that Brain HAS to believe. They walk off and sneak into the Community Garden at night then go to the section with all of Buster's tomatoes in it. They release all of the worms into the garden so they will feed on the tomatoes.

The next day at school, Fern sits down alongside Brain, Arthur, and Buster. She asks Buster if he brought any tomatoes, and he did not. He said that he was going to, but there were worms all around them. They start to think that maybe worms are taking over Elwood City, because what other explanation is there?

Fern and Binky go to the soccer field. They have shovels, and they start to dig. The next day Brain, Muffy, Buster, Binky, Arthur, Francine and Fern are playing soccer. Francine sees holes in the field. They think it is giant worms. Brain states that it is impossible. He is stumped.

At Fern's house, she is sewing a costume that looks like a giant worm. It scares Binky. Binky says that it could use some more mint jelly.

Outside the library, Brain and Fern are talking. Fern tells Brain to take a photo of her. She says that it's for the newest story that she's written. He takes the picture, and then Fern takes a picture of him. He looks at the picture, and the giant worm is in the background! He runs off, and the spot where the worm was is a hole with slime in it. Brain is freaked out. They go into the library to read about worms. All of the books about worms are gone. There's a note in their place, which reads "From the National Secret Anti-Worm Squad: make sure to remove all worm books from the local library to keep people from discovering the truth of the giant worm invasion of Elwood City." Brain runs off screaming.

The Brain is brushing his teeth, and in the hallway he sees something that looks like a giant worm. It is just the vacuum cleaner Mrs. Powers is using. Fantasy: When the Brain is in bed he tries to convince himself that there are no giant worms. He falls a sleep. He has a dream where he is in his room, opens his blinds, and they are covered in slime. He runs downstairs and yells for his mother, or father. He turns on the TV and it is a story about the worm invasion. The worms suddenly eat the news studio, and the reporter is covered in slime. He drops the remote, and the battery compartment falls off. He runs out of his house, and his house and everything else is covered in slime. A worm sees him, and chases him. He wakes up. Finally, he is convinced that giant worms are coming.

Meanwhile, at Fern's house, she is talking to Binky on the phone. She then gets a call from Brain. They go to the Tree House with various weapons such as rolling pins, baseball bats, shovels They say that they're going to stop the giant worms from invading. Binky acts like he is scared, but Fern whispers to him that there are no giant worms. Then Arthur, Buster, Francine and Muffy yell "Make The Worms Squirm" then Brain puts on his googles and then Arthur, Buster and Muffy and Francine walk behind him with mad faces. Fern runs to tell Brain it was not true. The Brain opens the door and yells They charge towards school. They go into Mr. Ratburn's class. Then Mr Ratburn opens the worm vermiculture box and peeks in it, They think that Mr. Ratburn is being eaten by worms, they yell "We'll save you Mr Ratburn" so they run towards him. Mr Ratburn peeks up and asks them "What's the mean of thi-" but before he could finish, Brain Arthur Buster Muffy and Francine hit him on his right ear

He ends up in the school nurse's office. Mr. Ratburn questions Brain by asking him what made him think that there were giant worms while holding an ice bag on his right ear. The Brain replies that the evidence. The worms in the garden, the worm holes, the worm in the photo, and the National Secret Anti-Worm Squad. Fern admits to doing it all. Mr. Ratburn then teaches the class about how worms help the environment.

Characters

Major

• Fern Walters
• The Brain

Minor

• Nigel Ratburn
• Arthur Read
• Buster Baxter
• Francine Frensky
• Binky Barnes
• Muffy Crosswire

Cameo

• D.W. Read
• Rodentia Ratburn
• Jack Weasel
• Alex
• Maria Pappas
• 3rd Grade Female Cat (Number 2)
• Jenna Morgan
• Brian
• 3rd Grade Male Rabbit
• John
• Otis
• Helen
• Nancy
• Norman Hedgehog
• Prunella Deegan
• 3rd Grade Female Aardvark (Number 2)

Trivia

• This episode is Rodentia Ratburn's (Mr. Ratburn's sister) latest appearance. She is seen in the library when Brain runs off screaming. She hasn't been seen since "Arthur's Substitute Teacher Trouble". She reappeared in Mr. Ratburn and the Special Someone
• The news reporter in Brain's dream sequence is a caricature of Arthur director Greg Bailey.
• Binky and Fern visit the "Menzel Bait Shop," named after writer Gentry Menzel.
• Moral: Dont take the fun out of stories for your own benefits.
• Timeline: Brain mentions in "Arthur's First Sleepover" that he used to be afraid of a movie with a giant worm.
• During Brain's nightmare, Alex Hood's scream is heard.

Cultural references

• When Fern and Binky leave the bait shop, they pass a banner that reads, "XBOX 360" and "PS3".
• This episode's title is a parody of H.G. Wells' novel, The War of the Worlds. A radio broadcast of the story caused a similar panic when people believed it was real.

Errors

• Towards the end, where Brain and everyone are running towards Mr. Ratburn with the bats, pitchforks, etc., there are a few animation errors. Mr. Ratburn isn't far from the door, but when it shows everyone charging at him, it looks like they are farther away. Binky screams as he is running, but his mouth doesn't move.

Episode connections

• The worms in Brain's nightmare resemble Uncle Wormy.
• H.G. Wells' novel The War of the Worlds was also referenced in the episodes "The Fright Stuff" and "D.W. Aims High."

Gallery

:Main article: War of the Worms/Gallery