Introduction[]
Arthur comes up the stairs in the Read house.
Arthur: It seems like everyone I know has something they think will bring them good luck.
Flashback: Francine is up to bat at baseball. Her socks are visibly smelly.
Arthur (narrator): I probably told you about Francine's lucky socks.
Francine gets a hit and runs around the bases.
Arthur (narrator): She still hasn't played a game without them.
Francine slides into home, causing the catcher and the other players to flee.
MM Catcher: Aahhh!
Audience: (cheer)
Francine brushes dusts off her shoes while flies circle round her socks.
Flashback: The third-graders are writing a test. Buster has an old teddy bear on his desk.
Arthur (narrator): Buster used to have a stuffed bear he thought would give him supernatural powers on tests.
Buster: Give me an A, give me an A, give me an A...
He holds the bear.
Mr. Ratburn: The test is over. Put your pencils down.
Buster: (gasps) He realizes that he has not written anything. Oops!
Flashback: Grandma Thora and Mrs. MacGrady stand in the bingo hall. They kiss their fingers and spin around.
Arthur (narrator): Even Grandma Thora has her own good-luck rituals.
Bingo Caller: Under the B...7.
Thora and Mrs. MacGrady stamp their cards.
The flashbacks end. Arthur walks into his room, which is very messy.
Arthur: But those things weren't lucky. The only thing that can truly help you win games or do well at school is... something in this room, somewhere in this room.
Title Card: Arthur with Umbrella[]
Mr. Ratburn shows slides in class which are reflected on Arthur’s glasses.
Mr. Ratburn: The fruit fly then deposits its eggs on the decaying banana...
Francine and Sue Ellen are dozing off.
Arthur: (yawns)
He hears laughter coming from Miss Sweetwater’s class and looks over. Miss Sweetwater is reading a joke book.
Miss Sweetwater: "Stan says: Our dog is like a member of our family. Fran says: Oh yeah? Which one is he like?"
Sweetwater Class: (laugh)
Miss Sweetwater: For today's assignment, I want everyone to make up a joke of their own.
Sweetwater Class: (cheer)
Arthur: Aw...
***
The school bell rings and the kids run out of the classrooms. Arthur and Buster walk side by side. Arthur is holding a toy boat.
Kids: (yell)
Buster: I didn't think class would ever end.
Arthur: Me neither! Come on, Let's get to the lake while it's still... They open the door just as thunder cracks. It is pouring outside. ...good sailing weather.
Buster: Yeah, for a submarine, maybe.
Arthur: (sighs)
***
Arthur flips a coin in the living room while D.W. watches.
Arthur: Heads! Aw... Two out of three?
D.W.: Heads! But I've already won.
She turns on the TV.
Arthur: Aw...
Two non-anthropomorphic cats cuddle on the screen.
Announcer (on TV): It's the Sweet Kittens Hour with your hosts Fluffy and Muffy.
Arthur: I'd rather do math homework!
He leaves the room.
***
That evening, Arthur sits at the dinner table.
Arthur: Fish sticks? But Dad, I hate fish sticks.
Mrs. Read: Fish is brain food, Arthur. It'll make you smart.
Arthur: Yeah, but first, it'll make me sick.
He pushes his plate away.
Mr. Read: There's lots of creamed okra if you can't eat fish.
He serves Arthur something green.
Arthur: Terrific. Well, at least there's dessert to look forward to.
Mr. Read: Well, there would've been, except for a little accident...
Pal stands in the door with a chocolate covered mouth. He licks his lips.
Pal: (burps)
***
The next morning, Arthur and D.W. walk to Grandma Thora’s house in the pouring rain.
Arthur: Two crummy days in a row! I think I must be cursed!
D.W.: No way! How could someone with a sister as cute as me be cursed? Arthur, watch out!
Arthur: What?
D.W.: You almost stepped on that pencil. Arthur picks up a pencil with an eye symbol inside a star. You could have tripped and died. I saved your life.
Arthur: Uh, thanks.
D.W.: You sure are lucky I was here.
The rain stops and the sun comes out.
Arthur: Huh?
He looks at the pencil and puts it in his pocket.
***
Thora waves from her veranda when Arthur and D.W. arrive.
Arthur: Grandma Thora's waiting for you, D.W. I have to get to school.
He runs off.
D.W.: Hi, Grandma!
***
Mr. Ratburn addresses the class.
Mr. Ratburn: I received some complaints about yesterday's slideshow, so I’ve decided to alter today's lesson plan with something more interesting.
Class: Yes!
Mr. Ratburn: A little math quiz.
Class: Aww!
Arthur takes the pencil out of his sweatshirt and sharpens it.
***
Later, Arthur and Buster stand in the lunch line.
Buster: Quick, I heard there's Boston Cream Pie today. We have to hurry before... A big boy takes the last two slices. ...it's all gone!
Arthur: It's my fault, Buster. You shouldn't hang around me. I've been having rotten luck.
Mrs. MacGrady puts a fresh cream pie on the counter.
Mrs. MacGrady: It's your lucky day! Fresh out of the oven. I'll give both of you extra-big slices.
Buster looks delighted while Arthur stares.
Arthur: Uh...
***
After lunch, Arthur and Buster walk down a corridor.
Buster: Arthur, maybe your luck has changed because of that pencil.
Arthur: That's ridiculous. Whoever heard of a lucky pencil?
Arthur attempts to put a coin in a juice dispenser. It sticks.
Arthur: There! See how lucky I am? My money's stuck!
Buster: Poke them through with the pencil.
Arthur: Like this is really gonna work.
He pushes the coin with the pencil’s eraser. The coin falls into the machine and a can of juice comes out, followed by three more cans.
***
The pencil lies on Arthur’s desk in class. Arthur and Buster look at it.
Buster: I'm telling you, Arthur, it's the best charm I've ever seen!
Arthur: How could something as normal as a pencil be lucky? Besides, all it can do is get free soda.
Buster: What's wrong with that?
Mr. Ratburn returns the quiz.
Mr. Ratburn: Good work, Mr. Read! You got an "A" on that surprise quiz.
Arthur and Buster stare. A ray of light falls on the pencil.
Arthur: You're right, Buster! It's the world's luckiest pencil! And it's mine.
***
Arthur lends the pencil to Brain who writes down complicated formulas while a scholarly looking man is visiting the class.
***
Arthur sharpens the pencil and hands it to Muffy, who uses it to fasten her braids on top of her head.
***
Francine plays the drums when the tip of a drumstick breaks off. She gets the pencil and resumes playing.
***
Arthur sharpens the pencil in class. Buster runs up to him.
Buster: Can I borrow it? I'm in the table-hockey playoffs and I'm down by three points.
Arthur: Sure, Buster! Good luck.
Buster: I know I'll win! You can do anything with the pencil.
Arthur: Hm...
Arthur imagines sitting in the oval office. A secretary brings him a document.
Secretary: Mr. President, this is a bill giving fifty million dollars to all public schools in America, so that Boston Cream Pie can be served twice a day to every child.
Arthur takes out the pencil and signs the bill.
Next, Arthur is an astronaut on a distant planet carrying a huge pencil. An alien growls at him.
Arthur: Eat lead, slimebreath!
He zaps the alien with the pencil.
The fantasies end. Arthur hears something breaking.
Arthur: (gulps)
Buster holds the broken pencil.
Binky+Francine+Sue Ellen: (gasp)
Buster: I didn't do it! I mean... it's not my fault. I mean... I'm sorry, Arthur! (sobs)
Binky takes the pencil to the pencil sharpener.
Binky: Here, Arthur, just re-sharpen it. I'm sure it's still lucky.
Buster: I've broken the pencil. I'm doomed! I'll have no friends! (sobs)
Arthur: Don't worry, Buster. It was an accident. I'll still be your friend.
Buster: (sniffs) You mean it? Oh, you're the best, Arthur! Can I finish the game? I was winning.
Arthur: Grr!
***
Arthur sharpens the pencil in his room. Then he holds it against a wardrobe and makes a mark to show the pencil’s length. Some other marks indicate that it is shortening fast.
Arthur: Ah...
~~~
Arthur lies on the couch and writes a letter with his lucky pencil.
D.W.: What ya doin'?
Arthur: Writing to my pen pal.
D.W.: I don't see any words.
Arthur: Well, I'm not pressing very hard. I don't want to waste my pencil.
D.W.: But what fun is a letter if you can't read it?
Arthur: It will bring him good luck. Besides, it's the thought that counts.
***
Arthur closes his locker when Francine runs up to him.
Francine: Hey, Arthur! Can I borrow the pencil? The Brain is creaming me at tic-tac-toe.
Arthur: Um, I've decided to save it for when I really need the good luck.
Francine: Save it?! I only have to make three Xs.
Arthur: Er, sorry, Francine.
He walks away.
Francine: Luck hog!
***
Arthur and Buster drink through straws in the Sugar Bowl.
Buster: You should only use it in emergencies.
Arthur: Like if I was bitten by a snake or something?
Buster: Exactly.
The waitress approaches them.
Waitress: Either of you boys interested in entering our Milkshakes for Life sweepstakes?
Buster stares at Arthur.
Buster: A-A-Arthur...
Arthur: No, Buster!
Buster grabs Arthur's collar.
Buster: But this is an emergency!
Arthur: Sorry, but if I let you use it now, I'll never be president.
He leaves.
***
In his room, Arthur checks the length of his pencil against the checkmarks while Pal watches. It is now about two inches long.
Arthur: If I use this any more, it'll be gone and I'll be my old, unlucky self again. I'll better hide it.
He puts the pencil under his pillow.
Arthur: No, that's too easy. I have to hide it someplace I'd never think to look. Hmm...
***
The next morning, the kids walk into the classroom.
Francine: Look, it's the luck-hog.
Binky: I bet he wouldn't even lend the pencil to his own grandmother.
Mr. Ratburn: Good morning, class. I assume you've been studying for tomorrow's big history test.
Buster: Please, please, please, please?
Arthur: No, Buster, you'll just going to have to study.
Muffy takes money out of her purse.
Muffy: Alright, how much do you want?
Arthur: It's not for sale. No one's going to use it. Not even me. So there!
***
That night, Arthur sits at his desk with a big book.
Arthur: Well, I've studied about as much as I can. The rest is up to fate. Unless... No. I said I wouldn't use it. Then again, this test is important. He looks under the pillow. (gasps) Where is it? It's gone!
He searches under the blanket and under the bed.
Arthur: Stolen!
***
D.W. is having a tea party with Nadine in her room.
Arthur: D.W.! Nadine disappears. What did you do with my pencil?!
D.W.: What on Earth would I want with that silly thing?
Arthur: I don't know. So you can be famous? To get all the toys in the world? Fess up! Where is it?
D.W.: I don't have it, Arthur. You probably put it somewhere.
Arthur: Oh, right. Like I would forget where I... Uh-oh.
He runs back to his room.
***
Arthur searches his room.
Arthur: I can't find it! I'll never have good luck again, ever! I'm doomed!
***
The next morning, Arthur rides to school on his bike.
Arthur: Why bother even going to school? I'm gonna fail.
***
Arthur sits at his desk in the classroom and writes the test with an ordinary pencil.
Arthur: Oh, what's the use?
***
Arthur stands in the lunch line. Buster comes up to him.
Arthur: Keep away, Buster. I lost the pencil. I'm unlucky again.
Buster: That's alright, Arthur. I like you anyway. Two Boston Cream Pie days in the same week?! Wow-how! That's never happened before!
Arthur walks away.
***
Back in class, Arthur looks depressed. Mr. Ratburn returns his test.
Arthur: (gasps) This must be somebody else's test. It's an A.
He gives the test to Mr. Ratburn who gives it back.
Mr. Ratburn: No, Mr. Read, that is indeed your test.
Arthur: But... how could I get an A?
Mr. Ratburn: Perhaps you studied.
Arthur: Well, yeah, but... Wow! Maybe I don't need that pencil after all!
The school bell rings.
Mr. Ratburn: See you tomorrow, everyone!
***
After school, Arthur sits down on his bed.
Arthur: Boy, Pal. I guess I'll never see that pencil again. I think I'm so good at hiding things, I could get a job doing it.
Pal jumps on his lap.
Mrs. Read: Arthur? D.W.? Bring down your trash!
Arthur and D.W. bring down their trashcans.
D.W.: So, Arthur, did you find your lucky pencil?
Arthur: No, but it's no big deal.
***
Arthur and D.W. empty their cans into the big trashcan outside.
Arthur: It really wasn't good luck after all. I passed my test because I studied. You'll understand when you're older.
D.W.: Are you sure you don't need it anymore?
Arthur: I'm positive.
D.W.: Good! Then I'll take it.
She picks the lucky pencil out of the trash.
Arthur: That's where I put it! In my trashcan!
D.W.: Too bad you don't want it anymore. Now I'm gonna have all the luck.
She runs inside. Arthur runs after her.
Arthur: Wait, D.W., come back! I was joking! D.W., give that back! Mom, D.W. took my lucky pencil! Hey, you come back here you little weasel!