Arthur's Spelling Trubble/Transcript

(We see Arthur backstage at his school's spelling bee, looking very nervous)
Arthur: Do you think everybody gets nervous before they do something important to them?
Francine (as Deborah Franklin): Benjamin, do you think you should do this?
Arthur (as Benjamin Franklin): I have to. (Lightning zaps the kite) Ouch! Ouch! I did it! Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Heyyy! Ouch!
Arthur: This is nothing compared to a lightning storm, so I shouldn't be afraid either, right?
Herbert Haney: Next, Arthur Read.
[APPLAUSE]
Audience: Yay! Yahoo! Yeah, yeah, yeah!
[TITLE CARD]
Arthur, Francine, and Prunella: Good morning, Mr. Haney.
Mr. Haney: Everybody ready for the Spellathon?
Francine: Well, the third grade has the best spellers.
Prunella: It used to, but now I'm in the fourth grade. I won last year with "endurance". Can you spell "endurance", Arthur?
Arthur: I...N...
[FRANCINE GIGGLES]
Prunella: Forget it.
Arthur: It's a good thing the third grade isn't depending on ME to win.
(Transition to Mr. Ratburn's class)
(Chitchat from Mr. Ratburn's class)
Nigel Ratburn: Quiet, please. Everyone, get your homework out, so I can collect it. An important announcement, people: on Friday, we will have a spelling test.
(the class gasps)
It will be a spell-off in Spellathon style. Study hard, because the winners get a special surprise.
Francine: What do you think the surprise is?
Buster: Maybe the winner doesn't have to do homework for the rest of the year.
Brain: If it means less homework, I want to win. I'm going to study extra-hard.
Francine: Me, too.
(Transition to Francine's room)
Francine: Oh! I knew I forgot something. There. Now I can really concentrate.
Brain: A-N-T-I-D... Er...
Mr. Powers: What word are you struggling with, son?
Brain: Antidisestablishmentarianism. I can't remember if it has five I's or six.
Mr. Powers: Maybe you should skip down to "antidote".
(Transition to Muffy's room)
Computer: Dog.
Muffy: D-O-G.
Computer: Muffy...you're...a...genius.
(Transition to Buster's apartment)
Buster: [HE YAWNS] Hey! That's it! This oughta do it.
(Transition to Arthur's downstairs kitchen)
David Read: [HE HUMS WHILE MAKING A SCULPTURE]
Arthur: Dad, this song fits the letters of the first word on my spelling list. A-A-R-D-V-A-R-K...
Arthur and David Read (BOTH): A-A-R-D-V-A-R-K!
(Transition to Arthur's clubhouse)
Arthur: A-A-R-D-V-A-R-K! A-A-R-D-V-A-R-K! A-A-R-D...
D.W.: V-A-R-K!
Arthur: Don't bother me D.W., I'm studying!
D.W.: Oh that's what you call it! I thought you had ants in your pants.
Arthur: Go away.
D.W.: All right. What a grouch!
Arthur: A-A-R-D-V-A-R-K! A-A-R-D-V-A-R-K!
Buster: [STRAINING]
Arthur: I said don't bother...
Buster: Huh?
Arthur: Oh, hi, Buster! Done studying?
Buster: Don't have to. I have this. My good luck C-H-A-R-M - charm. Wanna go to the arcade?
Arthur: I should probably study some more.
Buster: If you know it now, is one more hour really gonna help?
Arthur: Maybe you're right. It doesn't feel like I'm getting any better at it.
Buster: Face it, pal, some people are born spellers. You're more the..."go have fun" type. They've got the jet game that flips you upside down.
Arthur: Okay.
(Transition to the next day at school)
Buster: You ready for the test, Arthur?
Arthur: The test!
Francine: How much did you study? I woke up early to squeeze in more study time. I know this whole book, even the publisher's address.
Arthur: Buster and I went to the arcade and I forgot to finish studying.
Ratburn: Okay, everyone. Line up for the spelling bee. ...That is incorrect. You may sit down. Jenna, please spell "essential".
Arthur (in his thoughts): What am I gonna do, what am I gonna do?! Maybe if I lean against the heater, maybe my temperature will go up and I can go to the nurse!
Ratburn: Arthur, perhaps you can be the first not to get knocked out by this. 'Aardvark'.
Arthur: A-A-R-D-V-A-R-K!
Francine: (laughs)
Ratburn: Thank you for the entertainment, Arthur! Francine, spell "pleasant".
Francine: Pleasant - P-L-E-A-S-E-N-T.
Ratburn: No, I'm sorry.
Francine: What kind of stupid word is that? Pleasant!
Ratburn: Arthur and the Brain are our winners! And the surprise you've won is to represent our class in the All-school Spellathon.
[THE CLASS CHEERS]
Arthur: Mr. Ratburn, I don't think I should be in the Spellathon.
Ratburn: You earned the honor, Arthur.
Arthur: Yeah, but the thing is, I don't know how to spell anything. A-N-Y-T-H-I-N-G. See? I just knew that one word.
Ratburn: Did you study?
Arthur: Sort of. N-No. Not really.
Ratburn: It will take some study, but if you really work at it, I know you can do well.
Arthur: You do?
(Transition to the Read house)
Arthur: And Mr. Ratburn thinks I can do it. I have a lot of studying to do. I have a list of a 100 words to learn.
D.W.: That's only 92 more than you know now.
Jane Read: D.W.! We'll help any way we can, Arthur.
[D.W. SNEAKS NEAR ARTHUR'S ROOM, THE DOOR CREAKS]
Arthur: E-L-E-P-H-A-N-T - elephant.
Jane Read: D.W.!
[D.W. GASPS]
Jane Read: How about some ice cream?
D.W.: Are you bribing me?
Jane Read: [SHE CHUCKLES] Yes.
D.W.: Okay.
(Transition to Arthur's Clubhouse)
Buster: Hey, Arthur! You wanna play football?
Arthur: I have to study. S-O-R-R-Y.
Buster: Sour?
Arthur: Sorry!
(Transition to the Read's kitchen)
Baby Kate: Nuhh! Nuhh! Nuhh! Nuhh! [GURGLES]
Arthur: My brain hurts. This isn't helping at all! I'm just not a speller.
David Read: Sometimes it feels like you're not getting it when you actually are. You want a snack?
Arthur: Absolutely! A-B-S-O-L-U-T-E-L-Y - absolutely. Hey! That's right!
[DOORBELL]
D.W.: I got it!
Francine: Hi, D.W. Is Arthur there?
D.W.: Sorry, Arthur can't come out to play. He's exercising his brain. But I'm available. I'm not a prisoner of MY vocabulary.
(Transition to Arthur continuing to study while walking in town) 
Brain: Hi, Arthur!
Arthur: Hey, Brain! How's the studying going?
Brain: Extraordinarily well! Now I'm getting some equipment for the computer program I'm writing in my spare time!
Arthur: Spare time?!
(Transitions to the Read's bathroom as Arthur brushes his teeth) 
[WATER RUNS]
D.W.: Spell "toothpaste".
Arthur: Toothpaste. T-O-O-T-H-P-A-S-T-E - toothpaste. Right?
D.W.: How should I know?
(Transition to the Read's kitchen)
Baby Kate: [Babbles] Glooba!
Arthur: Glooba. G-L-O-O-B-A - glooba.
Baby Kate: (looks stunned at Arthur)
(That night before the Spelling Bee, Grandma Thora is fixing Arthur's bowtie)
Arthur: I'm nervous. N-E-R-V-O-U-S - nervous.
Thora Read: You'll do just fine, Arthur.
(Transition to Lakewood Elementary at the night of the spelling bee)
[CONVERSATION FROM THE AUDIENCE]
Jane Read: You'd better get backstage. Good luck!
D.W.: Don't worry. If you lose, I bet Mom and Dad will let you live in the garage.
Arthur: G-A-R-A-G-E - garage.
(Backstage, the students are waiting for the spellathon to start)
Nigel Ratburn: Today's the big day. How do you feel?
Brain: I feel fine! 
Arthur: I wish I were back in bed.
Prunella: They're gonna light the Spellathon torch. It's so exciting!
[AUDIENCE APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]
Mr. Haney: Welcome to the All-School Spellathon. And now, our contestants.
[AUDIENCE CHEERING AS THE CURTAIN OPENS, REVEALING THE CONTESTANTS]
D.W.: Go, Arthur!
Haney: Everybody ready? Good luck. Our first word goes to...the Brain. Spell "fear".
[BRAIN PAUSES AS HE NERVOUSLY SWEATS]
Brain?
[THE AUDIENCE GIGGLES]
Haney: Brain, spell "fear".
Brain: Fear. F-E-R-E - fear.
Haney: I'm sorry. That's incorrect.
Brain: Are you sure? What dictionary are you using?
[ARTHUR GULPS]
Haney: Spell "pieces".
Cat Girl (?): - Pieces. P-E-I-C-E-S - pieces.
Haney: No, I'm sorry.
Cat Girl (?): I before E except after C, I before E except after C...
Haney: The word is "champion".
Prunella: That's so easy. I see it every day on my award from last year. Champion. C-H-A-M-P-I-O-N - champion.
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
Haney: Arthur, spell "suggest".
Arthur: Suggest. S-U-G-G-E-S-T - suggest.
Haney: That is correct.
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
Prunella: You can't beat me! Why don't you just give up?!
Haney: Prunella, spell "preparation".
[PRUNELLA PAUSES AS SHE AND THE AUDIENCE LOOK STUNNED]
Prunella?
Prunella: Could I have a definition, please?
Haney: Preparation – the process of getting ready.
Prunella: Of course. Preparation. P-R-E-P... (pauses) ...E...R-A-T-I-O-N - preparation.
Haney: I'm sorry, that's incorrect. Now Arthur gets a chance. If you spell this correctly, Arthur, you are the winner. Preparation.
[D.W. BLOWS A RASPBERRY]
Arthur: Preparation. P-R-E-P-A-R-A-T-I-O-N - preparation.
Haney: That's...correct!
[CHEERING, D.W. WHISTLES, THEN MR. HANEY HANDS THE TROPHY TO ARTHUR MAKING HIM THE SPELLING BEE CHAMPION]
Ratburn: Absolutely marvelous...
Buster: That was the most fantastic thing I've ever seen! Arthur, you're the greatest speller of all time.
Arthur: You know the best part of winning is? It's over! 
Ratburn: Congratulations, Arthur! I knew you could do it!
D.W.: Yeah, but now HE knows he could do it.
(END)
Category:Transcripts
Category:Season 1 transcripts
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