Besties/Transcript

Arthur looks at a collection of trophies in his cupboard. 
Arthur: It's easy to know when something is the best. It's just obvious. Like, who's the best dog. Pal!      
He puts a #1 ribbon on Pal’s chest.
Buster sits in the Sugar Bowl in front of a slice of pizza.
Buster: The best pizza.
Brain works in class with a load of books on his desk.
Arthur: The best student.      
He puts the ribbon on Brain’s cheek.
Buster visits his food collection.
Buster: The best piece of ginger shaped like a camel.
Arthur and Buster watch TV. Bionic Bunny has just arrested a villain who looks like Mr. Ratburn.
Arthur+Buster: Best Bionic Bunny episode ever!
Arthur and Buster stand in front of the jungle gym. Arthur holds a ribbon.
Arthur: But is it the same with friends? Can you have more than one best one?   
Francine, George, Muffy, Brain and Binky appear beside them. 
Arthur: Hm...      
Buster looks annoyed and walks away.
Arthur: Hh! Buster, wait! I was just kidding! You know it's you!      
Arthur is left alone.
~~~
Title Card: Buster and Ladonna laugh in front of the lockers
~~~
Buster and Ladonna ring the Reads’ doorbell. When Arthur opens, they pretend to be monkeys.
Ladonna: (makes monkey noises)
Arthur: What are you guys doing?
Buster: We're meerkats. 
Ladonna: Coming to take you to ‘Mr. Meerkat's Merry Misadventure’!
Buster: In 3-D!
Arthur: I'm sorry, guys, I can't go.
Ladonna: Why not?
Arthur: Dad reminded me that I promised to help clean out the garage. I was supposed to do it yesterday, but I totally forgot.
Buster+Ladonna: Oh...
Arthur: You two go without me. I hear it's supposed to be great.     
All three look sad.
~~~ 
At the movies, Buster and Ladonna queue first for tickets, then for popcorn.
Ladonna: (whistles)       
Buster scratches his head. Both kids look awkward.
Buster: Too bad Arthur couldn't come.
Ladonna: Yeah, I wish he was here. Not that this isn't fun.
Buster: Oh no, this is fun. I'm having fun. Are you having fun?
Ladonna: Tons of fun!
Buster: What could be more fun than this?
Ladonna: Absolutely nothing.
Buster: It's just that...
Ladonna: ...if Arthur were here...
Buster: ...it'd be even funner.
Ladonna: Right. More fun.
Buster: What?
Ladonna: More fun. It's more grammatically, erm... Never mind. Is this line even moving?
The popcorn machine starts shaking.
Vendor: Look out! She's gonna blow!
The machine’s lid flies off and popcorn rains down all over the lobby. A man catches it in his T-shirt.
People: (cheer)     
Mr. Ratburn stands in the entrance door. A St. Bernard looks through Mr. Ratburn’s legs and sniffs. Then he runs inside. His owner runs into Mr. Ratburn and lets go of the leash.
Dog Owner: Sparky, no! Come back!  Aah!
Buster+Ladonna: (chuckle)       
The dog stands on the lobby counter and eats popcorn. A lady faints. A policeman catches her, but she loses her shoes.   
Buster+Ladonna: (laugh)
~~~
Later, Arthur, Buster and Ladonna sit in the Sugar Bowl.
Buster: It was hysterical. There was popcorn everywhere!
Ladonna: And then the dog got sick!
Buster: Right on the old woman's shoes!
Buster+Ladonna: (laugh)
Arthur: Ha-ha... Weird. Hey, how was the movie?
Ladonna: Ah, I don't remember. Not as good as Popcorn Pandemonium!
Buster: In 4-D!
Buster+Ladonna: (laugh)
Buster: You really had to be there.
Arthur: I wish I had been.
~~~ 
Ladonna walks up to Arthur and Buster who are standing at their lockers.
Ladonna: Did you hear the forecast today? Cloudy with a chance of popcorn!   
She hands Buster a cup of popcorn.    
Ladonna: I thought you should have this!
Buster+Ladonna: (laugh)    
Arthur looks peeved. He tries to take some popcorn, just as Buster offers it to Ladonna.
Buster: You just had to be there.
~~~ 
In the school cafeteria, Arthur shares a table with Buster, Ladonna and Sue Ellen.
Ladonna: And then this guy came out with a little broom and dustpan!
Buster: But it didn't even make a dent. I've still got kernels in my pockets!
Ladonna: Me, too! Just when you least expect it, popcorn pandemonium strikes again!
Buster+Ladonna: Boom!  Kapow!   
They throw their kernels in the air.    
Buster+Ladonna: (laugh)     
Several other kids give them odd looks.
Buster: (sighs)
Arthur: I know. Had to be there... How about I get in my time machine, go back two days and we can all experience it together?   
Buster: Hh! When did you get a time machine?!     
~~~ 
Arthur follows Sue Ellen as she takes her tray away.
Sue Ellen: That's how it starts.
Arthur: How what starts?
Sue Ellen: Losing your best friend. I remember Marilyn Labattski...
Flashback: Sue Ellen pushes a girl on a swing.
Sue Ellen (narrator): She was my bestie before I came to Lakewood. 
Flashback: Sue Ellen and Marilyn paint a winged horse.
Sue Ellen (narrator): We were a team.
Flashback: Sue Ellen and Marilyn hold two half-heart bracelets together. At night, they sleep in a tent in the backyard.
Sue Ellen (narrator): Inseparable. Two peas in a pod.
Flashback: A shadow falls on Sue Ellen and Marilyn.
Sue Ellen (narrator): Then she showed up... Sybil Whitcraft. She was mysterious, cool and a whiz at cat's cradle. We both liked her instantly.    
Sybil shows a complicated cat’s cradle.
Flashback: Sue Ellen pushes Sybil on the swing while Marilyn watches.
Sue Ellen (narrator): For a while, all three of us hung out.
Flashback: Marilyn and Sybil ring Sue Ellen’s doorbell. Sue Ellen opens wearing her pajamas.
Sue Ellen (narrator): But then, one day I got a cold and couldn't go to macramé class.
Inside, Sue Ellen blows her nose. Outside, Marilyn and Sybil walk away together.
Sue Ellen (narrator): Marilyn and Sybil went without me.
Flashback: Marilyn and Sybil rides the swings while Sue Ellen just stands there.
Sue Ellen (narrator): I never found out what happened in that macramé class. But from that day on, I had been replaced.    
Sue Ellen walks away.
The fantasy ends.
Sue Ellen: Tossed out like this half-eaten mealy Macoun apple.    
She throws a half-eaten apple in the trash.
Arthur: Buster would never do that to me.
Sue Ellen: I hope not, Arthur. I hope not.     
She walks away. Arthur looks worried. He watches Buster trying to throw a piece of popcorn into Ladonna’s mouth.
Buster+Ladonna: (laugh)
~~~
The next day, Arthur rings the Baxter’s doorbell with a box. Buster opens.
Buster: Hey, there he is! My best bud in the whole world! I brought you a pie.
Arthur: You brought me a pie?
Buster: Yup. Dad and I made it this morning. It's boysenberry, your favorite!
Arthur opens the box on the kitchen table.
Buster: Why'd you bring me a pie?      
Arthur waves some of the smell over to Buster.
Arthur: No reason. I just thought maybe my pal Buster would like some pie.
Buster: Weird... I would like some pie. Hey, maybe you're psychic?
Arthur: Nah. I just know what you're thinking sometimes because we're best buds. Sit, sit. I'll get your plate.
~~~ 
A while Later, Buster is eating a piece of pie while Arthur watches him.
Buster: Are you sure you don't want any?
Arthur: No, it's all for you. Good, right?
Buster: Did you bring me this pie because you wanna borrow my Curse Of The Moomies video game? Cause you didn't have to.
Arthur: What? No, I don't want anything. I just felt like doing something nice. Oh, that reminds me... When I was cleaning out the garage, I found these old photos.   
He opens an old photo album.      
Arthur: Here we are at the amusement park. And at the beach. And this is when we were four.
Buster: (chuckles)
Arthur: We sure have known each other for a long time.
Buster: We sure have.
Arthur: You know what I think the best thing about best friends is? They're irreplaceable. Well, I gotta go.
Arthur leaves the house.
Arthur: Enjoy the rest of that pie and have a wonderful day.    
Buster waves at him, looking confused.
~~~
Buster and Ladonna sit at a table in the cafeteria.
Buster: And it wasn't just the pie. He also organized my locker.
Ladonna: Hm, I don't know. Maybe he's telling the truth and just being nice.
Buster: No. I know Arthur better than anyone. Something is definitely up.    
Arthur comes.
Arthur: Hey, guys, what you talking about?
Buster: Mock turtle soup!
Ladonna: Pythagorean theorem! Oh, I've just remembered, I've got to go and finish my, er, history report.
Buster: I'll help you. You know me. Hê. Just can't get enough history.      
He leaves after Ladonna. Arthur looks sad.
~~~
At night, Arthur lies in bed. In his dream, Buster plays the piano in a night club.
Buster: 🎶“Old friends are great. / They love what you love and hate what you hate. / You always know just what they're gonna do. / But every now and then you need to start again and spend time with someone new. Whoo!”🎶
Buster and Ladonna do a vaudeville act wearing straw hats and carrying canes.
Buster: 🎶“She's my new best friend”🎶
Ladonna: 🎶“I'm his new best friend.”🎶
Both: 🎶“Together there's nothing we can't do.”🎶
Buster and Ladonna sit in a tree.
Ladonna: 🎶“Climb a tree.”🎶
Buster and Ladonna play pirates in Buster’s room.
Buster: 🎶“Build a fort.”🎶
Buster and Ladonna have a picknick.
Ladonna: 🎶“Have some tea.”🎶
Buster and Ladonna play basketball standing on their heads.
Buster: 🎶“Invent a sport.”🎶
Back on stage.
Both: 🎶“And the best thing is we'll do it without you!”🎶 
They point at Arthur who is sitting alone at a table.
Buster: Hey, Ladonna. Knock, knock!
Ladonna: Who's there?
Buster: Arthur.
Ladonna: Arthur who?
Buster: Ar-thur any other fun things to do without him?
Buster is alone on stage again.
Buster: 🎶 “I know this is upsetting / but me, you'll start forgetting / so dry your eyes and don't be blue. / Maybe somewhere out there is a new best friend for you?” 🎶
A warthog sits at Arthur’s table and looks at him.
Warthog: (grunts)
Arthur: (gasps)    
He buries his face in his hands.
The dream ends. Arthur is still shaking his head.
~~~
The next day, Ladonna rakes leaves in her yard. Arthur brings a baseball mitt.
Arthur: Hey, Ladonna, here's the baseball mitt I borrowed.
Ladonna: Hm. You didn't borrow that from me.
Arthur: I didn't? Huh... Maybe I borrowed it from Buster. Oh, by the way, I wouldn't take what he said to heart. He just gets grumpy sometimes.
Ladonna: Wait! What? What did Buster say?
Arthur: He told me you were kind of pushy. I just assumed you two had some sort of a fight.
Ladonna: Kind of pushy?  
She looks hurt.
Arthur: Like I said, he was probably just grumpy. Forget I said anything.    
He leaves. Ladonna looks peeved.
~~~
Arthur and Buster stand at Arthur’s locker. When Ladonna walks by, Buster shows her a piece of popcorn.
Buster: Hey, look what I found in my shoe this morning.
Ladonna: So? What do you want, a Nobel Prize?     
She walks on.
Buster: What was that all about?
Arthur: She's probably just cranky. It might be why she told me, "A little Buster goes a long way."
Buster: What? Why did she say that?
Arthur: Beats me. Like I said, she's probably just cranky.     
They walk to the classroom.     
Arthur: Hey, you want to go to the zoo this weekend? There's a new monkey exhibit.
Buster: Erm, yeah. Sure.        
He looks downhearted.
~~~ 
On the weekend, Arthur and Buster are in the zoo and look at a rhinoceros.
Buster: What did she mean? Should I be less Bustery? I can't! I'm a hundred percent me.
Arthur: Just forget it. I'm sure she didn't mean it. I think the monkeys are this way.
They walk over to the monkeys.
Buster: Look, there she is!
Arthur: Hh!     
Ladonna and Madison stand near the monkey exhibit.
Buster: I'm gonna go to go talk to her.
Arthur: Wait, no! Let's see the seals instead. It's feeding time.     
Buster runs over to Ladonna.
Buster: What do you mean, a little me goes a long way?
Ladonna: I never said that! Maybe you just thought I did because you think I'm so pushy! I...
Arthur runs between them.
Arthur: Hey, look! Monkeys! Boy, are they cute.
Buster: I don't think you're pushy.
Ladonna: Then why did you tell Arthur I was?     
Arthur pushes Buster and Ladonna over to the monkeys.
Arthur: Haha. They're so hysterical!  Hahaha! I can barely stand it.
Buster: I didn't!
Ladonna: Well, then why...?
Arthur: Okay, okay, it was me! Neither of you said anything about each other. I made it all up.
Buster: But... why?    
A thought bubble above Arthur shows Buster and Ladonna in the cafeteria and at the locker.
Arthur: Because I thought you two were becoming best friends and that I would be left out. I'm really, really sorry.
The kids hear the monkeys screeching. One monkey has grabbed a man’s camera.
Man: Hey! Give that back!
Ladonna: Hey, look! The monkey got his camera!
Photos show the monkey’s face, the camera owner, a banana, Arthur and Buster laughing, the tail of another monkey, a zookeeper’s cap and the zookeeper trying to get his cap back.
Arthur+Buster+Ladonna: (laugh)
~~~ 
Later at the Sugar Bowl, Arthur, Buster and Ladonna tell their story to Francine and Muffy.
Arthur: So, this one monkey runs around taking pictures!
Ladonna: And then the zookeeper gets the camera back... 
Buster: ...but then another monkey steals the zookeeper's hat!
Arthur+Buster+Ladonna: (laugh)       
Muffy and Francine smile politely.
Arthur: I guess you just had to be there.
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Category:Season 19 transcripts