Arthur's Spelling Trouble

(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. 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]

ALL: Good morning, Mr Hainey.

Hainey: 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.

<p class="MsoNormal">Arthur: It's a good thing the third grade isn't depending on ME to win.

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<p class="MsoNormal">Nigel Ratburn: Quiet, please. Get your homework out. People, on Friday we will have a spelling test. It will be a spell-off in Spellathon style. Study hard because the winners get a special surprise.

<p class="MsoNormal">Francine: What do you think the surprise is?

<p class="MsoNormal">Buster: Maybe the winner doesn't have to do homework for the rest of the year.

<p class="MsoNormal">Brain: If it means less homework, I want to win. I'm going to study extra-hard.

<p class="MsoNormal">Francine: Me, too.

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<p class="MsoNormal">Francine: Oh! I knew I forgot something. There. Now I can really concentrate.

<p class="MsoNormal">Brain: A-N-T-I-D... Er...

<p class="MsoNormal">Mr. Powers: What word are you struggling with, son?

<p class="MsoNormal">Brain: Antidisestablishmentarianism. I can't remember if it has five I's or six.

<p class="MsoNormal">Mr. Powers: Maybe you should skip down to "antidote".

<p class="MsoNormal"> Computer: Dog.

<p class="MsoNormal">Muffy: D-O-G.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Computer: Muffy...you're...a...genius.

<p class="MsoNormal">Buster: [HE YAWNS] Hey! That's it! This oughta do it.

<p class="MsoNormal">David Read: [HE HUMS]

<p class="MsoNormal">Arthur: Dad, this song fits the letters of the first word on my spelling list. # A-A-R-D-V-A-R-K

<p class="MsoNormal">Arthur and David Read (BOTH): # A-A-R-D-V-A-R-K

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<p class="MsoNormal">Arthur: # A-A-R-D-V-A-R-K # A-A-R-D-V-A-R-K # A-A-R-D...

<p class="MsoNormal">D.W.: # V-A-R-K

<p class="MsoNormal">Arthur: Don't bother me, D.W., I'm studying!

<p class="MsoNormal">D.W.: Oh that's what you call it! I thought you had ants in your pants.

<p class="MsoNormal">Arthur: Go away.

<p class="MsoNormal">D.W.: All right. What a grouch!

<p class="MsoNormal">Arthur: # A-A-R-D-V-A-R-K   # A-A-R-D-V-A-R-K

<p class="MsoNormal">Buster: [STRAINING]

<p class="MsoNormal">Arthur: I said don't bother...

<p class="MsoNormal">Buster: Huh?

<p class="MsoNormal">Arthur: Oh, hi, Buster! Done studying?

<p class="MsoNormal">Buster: Don't have to. I have this. My good luck C-H-A-R-M - charm. Wanna go to the arcade?

<p class="MsoNormal">Arthur: I should probably study some more.

<p class="MsoNormal">Buster: If you know it now, is one more hour really gonna help?

<p class="MsoNormal">Arthur: Maybe you're right. It doesn't feel like I'm getting any better at it.

<p class="MsoNormal">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.

<p class="MsoNormal">Arthur: Okay.

<p class="MsoNormal">Buster: You ready for the test, Arthur?

<p class="MsoNormal">Arthur: The test!

<p class="MsoNormal">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.

<p class="MsoNormal">Arthur: Buster and I went to the arcade and I forgot to finish studying.

<p class="MsoNormal">Nigel Ratburn: Okay, everyone. Line up for the spelling bee. That is incorrect. You may sit down. Jenna, please spell "essential".

<p class="MsoNormal">Arthur: '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!

<p class="MsoNormal">Nigel Ratburn: Arthur, perhaps you can be the first not to get knocked out by this. 'Aardvark'.

<p class="MsoNormal">Arthur: # A-A-R-D-V-A-R-K

<p class="MsoNormal">Francine: (laughs)

<p class="MsoNormal">Nigel Ratburn: Thank you for the entertainment, Arthur! Francine, spell "pleasant".

<p class="MsoNormal">Francine: Pleasant - P-L-E-A-S-E-N-T.

<p class="MsoNormal">Nigel Ratburn: No, I'm sorry.

<p class="MsoNormal">Francine: What kind of stupid word is that? Pleasant!

<p class="MsoNormal">Nigel Ratburn: Arthur and the Brain are our winners! And the surprise you’ve won is to represent our class in the All-school Spellathon.

<p class="MsoNormal">[THE CLASS CHEERS]

<p class="MsoNormal">[SCHOOL BELL]

<p class="MsoNormal">Arthur: Mr Ratburn, I don't think I should be in the Spellathon.

<p class="MsoNormal">Nigel Ratburn: You earned the honor, Arthur.

<p class="MsoNormal">Arthur: Yeah, but the thing is, I don't know how to spell anything. A-N-T-I-N-G. See? I just knew that one word.

<p class="MsoNormal">Nigel Ratburn: Did you study?

<p class="MsoNormal">Arthur: Sort of. N-No. Not really.

<p class="MsoNormal">Nigel Ratburn: It will take some study, but if you really work at it, I know you can do well.

<p class="MsoNormal">Arthur: You do?

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<p class="MsoNormal">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.

<p class="MsoNormal">D.W.: That's only 92 more than you know now.

<p class="MsoNormal">Jane Read: D.W.! We'll help any way we can, Arthur.

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<p class="MsoNormal">[THE DOOR CREAKS]

<p class="MsoNormal">Arthur: E-L-E-P-H-A-N-T - elephant.

<p class="MsoNormal">Jane Read: D.W.!

<p class="MsoNormal">[D.W. GASPS]

<p class="MsoNormal">   How about some ice cream?

<p class="MsoNormal">D.W.: Are you bribing me?

<p class="MsoNormal">Jane Read: [SHE CHUCKLES] Yes.

<p class="MsoNormal">D.W.: Okay.

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<p class="MsoNormal">Buster: Hey, Arthur! Wanna play football?

<p class="MsoNormal">Arthur: I have to study. S-O-R-R-Y.

<p class="MsoNormal">Buster: Sour?

<p class="MsoNormal">Arthur: Sorry!

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<p class="MsoNormal">Baby Kate: Nuhh! Nuhh! Nuhh! Nuhh! [GURGLES]

<p class="MsoNormal">Arthur: My brain hurts. This isn't helping at all! I'm just not a speller.

<p class="MsoNormal">David Read: Sometimes it feels like you're not getting it when you actually are. You want a snack?

<p class="MsoNormal">Arthur: Absolutely! A-B-S-O-L-U-T-E-L-Y - absolutely. Hey! That's right!

<p class="MsoNormal">[DOORBELL]

<p class="MsoNormal">D.W.: I got it!

<p class="MsoNormal">Francine: Hi, D.W. Is Arthur there?

<p class="MsoNormal">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.

<p class="MsoNormal">Brain: Hi, Arthur!

<p class="MsoNormal">Arthur: Hey, Brain! How's the studying going?

<p class="MsoNormal">Brain: Extraordinarily well! Now I'm getting some equipment for the computer programme I'm writing in my spare time!

<p class="MsoNormal">Arthur: Spare time?!

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<p class="MsoNormal">[WATER RUNS]

<p class="MsoNormal">D.W.: Spell "toothpaste".

<p class="MsoNormal">Arthur: Toothpaste. T-O-O-T-H-P-A-S-T-E - toothpaste. Right?

<p class="MsoNormal">D.W.: How should I know?

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<p class="MsoNormal">Baby Kate: [Babbles] Glooba!

<p class="MsoNormal">Arthur: Glooba. G-L-O-O-B-A -   glooba.

<p class="MsoNormal">Baby Kate: (looks stunned at Arthur)

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<p class="MsoNormal">(That night before the Spelling Bee, Grandma Thora is fixing Arthur's bowtie)

<p class="MsoNormal">Arthur: I'm nervous. N-E-R-V-O-U-S - nervous.

<p class="MsoNormal">Thora Read: You'll do just fine, Arthur.

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<p class="MsoNormal">[CONVERSATION]

<p class="MsoNormal">Jane Read: You'd better get backstage. Good luck!

<p class="MsoNormal">D.W.: Don't worry. If you lose, Mom and Dad will let you live in the garage.

<p class="MsoNormal">Arthur: G-A-R-A-G-E - garage.

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<p class="MsoNormal">Nigel Ratburn: Today's the big day. How do you feel?

<p class="MsoNormal">Brain: I feel fine! I feel fine.

<p class="MsoNormal">Arthur:   I wish I were back in bed.

<p class="MsoNormal">Prunella: They're gonna light the Spellathon torch. It's so exciting!

<p class="MsoNormal">[APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]

<p class="MsoNormal">Mr. Haney: Welcome to the All-School Spellathon. And now, our contestants.

<p class="MsoNormal">[CHEERING]

<p class="MsoNormal">D.W.: Go, Arthur!

<p class="MsoNormal">Haney: Everybody ready? Good luck. Our first word goes to...the Brain. Spell "fear". Brain?

<p class="MsoNormal">[THE AUDIENCE GIGGLES]

<p class="MsoNormal">Brain, spell "fear".

<p class="MsoNormal">Brain: Fear. F-E-R-E - fear.

<p class="MsoNormal">Haney: I'm sorry. That's incorrect.

<p class="MsoNormal">Brain: Are you sure? What dictionary are you using?

<p class="MsoNormal">[ARTHUR GULPS]

<p class="MsoNormal">Haney: Spell "pieces".

<p class="MsoNormal">Cat Girl (?): - Pieces. P-E-I-C-E-S - pieces.

<p class="MsoNormal">Haney: No, I'm sorry.

<p class="MsoNormal">Cat Girl (?): I before E except after C, I before E except after C...

<p class="MsoNormal">Haney: The word is "champion".

<p class="MsoNormal">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.

<p class="MsoNormal">[CHEERING]

<p class="MsoNormal">Haney: Arthur, spell "suggest".

<p class="MsoNormal">Arthur: Suggest. S-U-G-G-E-S-T - suggest.

<p class="MsoNormal">Haney: That is correct.

<p class="MsoNormal">Prunella: You can't beat me! Why don't you just give up?!

<p class="MsoNormal">Haney: Prunella, spell "preparation". Prunella?

<p class="MsoNormal">Prunella: Could I have a definition, please?

<p class="MsoNormal">Haney: Preparation – the process of getting ready.

<p class="MsoNormal">Prunella: Of course. Preparation. P-R-E-P…E-R-A-T-I-O-N - preparation.

<p class="MsoNormal">Haney: I'm sorry, that's incorrect. Now Arthur gets a chance. If you spell this correctly, Arthur, you are the winner. Preparation.

<p class="MsoNormal">[D.W. BLOWS A RASPBERRY]

<p class="MsoNormal">Arthur: Preparation. P-R-E-P-A-R-A-T-I-O-N - preparation.

<p class="MsoNormal">Haney: That's...correct!

<p class="MsoNormal">[CHEERING, DW WHISTLES, THEN MR. HANEY HANDS THE TROPHY TO ARTHUR MAKING HIM THE SPELLING BEE CHAMPION]

<p class="MsoNormal">Nigel Ratburn: Absolutely marvellous...

<p class="MsoNormal">Buster: That was the most fantastic thing I've ever seen! Arthur, you’re the greatest speller of all time.

<p class="MsoNormal">Arthur: You know the best part of winning is? It's over! It's over!

<p class="MsoNormal">Nigel Ratburn: Congratulations, Arthur! I knew you could do it!

<p class="MsoNormal">D.W.:Yeah, but now HE knows he could do it.