Intro: Tibble's Yard[]
Arthur bounces up and down in the Tibbles’ yard.
Arthur: Sometimes, do you see things you just have to have? You tell your parents it's the most important thing in the world and you bug them until they get it for you. And then once you have it, it's not such a big thing anymore, like hockey gloves... He wears them. or a telescope... He holds one. or Bionic Bunny walkie talkies. He holds them. The problem is these things usually end up buried in a closet, under a bed or on Dad's tool shelf in the basement. These places are shown. Well, it wasn't going to be the same old story this time because I had to have those...
Mrs. Tibble: Arthur, are you working or just lollygagging?
Arthur: Oops, gotta go.
Title Card: Arthur Bounces Back (Arthur With Umbrella)[]
Mrs. Read drives Arthur and D.W. to Mill Creek Mall.
Arthur: Mom, why do we have to go clothes shopping?
Mrs. Read: Because it's fall and you both need new coats.
The car stops in the parking lot in front of the mall.
Arthur: Can't I wait in the car?
Mrs. Read: They'll let you in the mall, Arthur. You're not a dog.
D.W. touches Arthur’s face.
D.W.: His nose is cold.
We transition to the Mill Creek Mall, where Arthur, D.W., and their mom are coat shopping.
Inside a clothes store Mrs. Read picks up a red coat while Arthur leans against the rack, looking bored. D.W. parades in front of a mirror.
D.W.: D.W. looks lovely in her red coat, great for both classroom or playground and it has cute little clips for her mittens.
Arthur: Mom, is she gonna do this for every coat she tries on?
Mrs. Read picks up a green coat.
Mrs. Read: Here Arthur, why don't you try this on?
Arthur does not move.
Arthur: It's fine. I'll take it.
Mrs. Read: Try it on!
Arthur looks at himself in the mirror with the coat.
Mrs. Read: Well, doesn't that look nice? Doesn't that look nice on your brother, D.W.?
D.W.: Arthur looks very outdoorsy in his green coat. If he stands still, he looks like a tree.
Arthur: Can I go to the toy store now?
He takes off the coat.
Mrs. Read: Alright, we'll be over in a minute.
Arthur: Yay!
He runs off. D.W. looks in the mirror in a blue coat.
D.W.: Is it a dream? No, it's D.W. looking beautiful in blue, the color of the sky on a crisp fall day.
We transition to the toy store in the mall. D.W. and her mom are still in the clothing store looking for a coat.
In the toy store, Arthur turns on a wind-up monkey that plays cymbals. He looks around and sees a box of balls. He bounces a small red ball.
Arthur: Ahh! It goes bouncing all over the room until it lands in the box with the other balls. Wow, that was close.
Arthur walks around and sees a toy truck. He touches it and it turns into a robot. He touches it again and it turns into a statue of Mr. Haney.
Muffy walks through the store followed by her dad who is carrying an armful of toys.
Muffy: Daddy, can I have this, too?
Mr. Crosswire: Ah. Sure, sweetie.
Muffy: Oh, hi, Arthur.
Arthur: Boy, it must be great to get every toy you want.
Muffy: Uh-huh.
Mr. Crosswire is at the cashier.
Mr. Crosswire: Time to go, Muffin.
Muffy: Okay, Daddy. Bye, Arthur.
She leaves.
Arthur: Bye, Muffy. He walks on and sees two moon boots on a shelf. Hey! Moon Boots! Wow!
In his imagination, Arthur jumps outside his house. He jumps all the way to the moon where he lands next to an American flag.
Arthur: That's one small step for Arthur... He picks up a small rock and eats it. Wow, it is made of cheese.
A cow wearing four moon boots jumps past him.
The fantasy ends.
Arthur: Whoa!
We transition to Arthur's home.
At home, Mr. Read takes rolls out of the oven and puts them in a bowl that Arthur is holding.
Arthur: And they're called Moon Boots and they're only ten dollars.
Mr. Read: Only ten dollars?
Mrs. Read: So that's what you were doing in the toy store.
Arthur: I’ve got it all figured out.
The Reads sit at the dinner table. D.W. feeds Kate.
Arthur: So that's why I think if you'd buy me moon boots, it would be good for the whole family.
Mr. Read: Well, Arthur, we just bought you new sneakers.
Arthur: Dad, Moon Boots would actually prolong the life of my sneakers.
D.W.: And... what about your beautiful new coat?
Arthur looks annoyed.
Kate: (giggles)
In the kitchen, Arthur shows his parents a chart while they are putting away dishes. It is labelled Transportation, Reaching High Places, Exercise and Mom, Dad, D.W.
Arthur: And I'll let you and Dad use them whenever you want.
Mr. Read: Well, I don't know about that, but if you want Moon Boots, you'll have to buy them with your own money.
Mrs. Read: That way you'll appreciate them more.
D.W.: Like the way you appreciate me.
In his room, Arthur shakes his piggy bank and a note falls out.
Arthur: “I owe myself four dollars and thirty cents. Sincerely, Arthur.”
Arthur searches the laundry in the basement for coins.
Arthur: Hmm.
He finds a penny in one pants pocket.
Arthur feels behind the couch cushions in the living room.
Arthur: Huh? He pulls out a hairy lollypop. I was wondering where that went. He puts the lollypop in his mouth. He walks past the mantlepiece and sees a picture of Grandma Thora. A-ha!
We transition to Grandma Thora's home. She is playing solitaire in her kitchen. Arthur comes with a bunch of flowers.
Arthur: Hi, Grandma. Look what I brought.
Grandma: Arthur, they're lovely. Now, you're not here about your Moon Boots, are you, because your parents already called me.
Arthur: They did?
Grandma Thora: Yes, and they told me not to give you any money and I have to respect their wishes. While you're here though, why don't we sit down and we'll play a nice long game of Canasta.
Arthur’s flowers droop.
We transition back to Arthur's house. D.W. and Mrs. Read play checkers on the living room table.
D.W.: King me!
Mrs. Read: D.W., I told you. You have to get to my back row to be kinged.
D.W.: I know, I just like saying it.
Arthur comes in with a note.
Arthur: My calculations may be off, but I figured at the rate I'm going, by the time I save enough money for the Moon Boots, I'll be a hundred and nine years old.
Mrs. Read: You know, Arthur, there are plenty of ways to earn money right around here.
D.W.: King me!
Back at his house, Arthur has set up a lemonade stand in front of the house.
Arthur: Lemonade! Arthur's ice cold lemonade! Come and... A dog runs off with the bag of lemons. Hey! Hey you, get back here! Bring that back!
Arthur crosses out the word “Lemonade” and writes “Kissing Booth”. Four girls come by.
Girl: Kissing Booth??
Girls: Eew! (laugh)
Arthur crosses out “Kissing Booth” and writes “Fortune Teller”. He now wears a turban and has a crystal ball on the table.
Arthur: Fortunes, come find out your future. I am gifted with the rare power to see into the future.
It starts pouring and thundering. Arthur walks to the house. His mom sees him and meets him in the hallway.
Arthur: Boy, by the time I get enough money to buy Moon Boots, people will actually be living on the moon.
Mrs. Read: Aw!
She gives Arthur a hug and a kiss.
Arthur: Why couldn't you have done that when I had the kissing booth?
Arthur jumps on the bed looking pensive. D.W. comes in.
D.W.: You know, Arthur, I still have some of my birthday money left.
Arthur: You do?
D.W.: Yes, and I could lend you some if you wanted.
Arthur: Really?
He jumps off the bed and hugs D.W.
D.W.: Of course, if I loan you the money, you have to agree to be my servant and do all my chores and call me "Your highness" for a whole year.
Arthur: Fat chance! And I take my hug back!
D.W. walks out.
D.W.: Okay, but remember it's a limited time offer.
Reads' House: Living Room[]
On TV, a couple of fourth graders stand in a playground with cobwebs at their shoes.
Announcement (on TV): Uh, regular boots? The shot cuts to the fourth graders wearing Moon Boots. Moon Boots! Two kids ride a seesaw while the other two jump around. Enough said.
Arthur: I just gotta get Moon Boots.
Mrs. Read: Arthur?
Arthur: Yes?
Mrs. Read: I was noticing that the garage has gotten quite cluttered and the floor is in need of a good sweeping. Now since that's not one of regular chores, I think we can give you two dollars to do it.
Arthur: Thanks, Mom.
He leaves.
Arthur has moved boxes out of the garage and is sweeping the floor. Mrs. Tibble arrives.
Arthur: Hello, Mrs. Tibble.
Mrs. Tibble sees a jewelry box.
Mrs. Tibble: Arthur, if you're going to have a garage sale, you should really put up a sign. I'll play five dollars for this.
Arthur: Oh, it's really not for...
Mrs. Tibble: Alright, ten dollars and not a penny more.
She holds up a ten dollar bill. Arthur thinks of the moon boots.
Arthur: Sold!
Mrs. Tibble: Do I pay your or your parents?
Arthur: Oh, uh, me. You pay me.
Mrs. Tibble smiles and gives Arthur the bill.)
Arthur goes to the Mill Creek Mall toy shop. He gives the employee the 10 dollar bill for the Moon Boots and the "$10.00" sign is shown on the cash register.
Arthur returns home. Arthur puts the shoe box on his bed and opens it. He hears his mom.
Mrs. Read: Arthur! Arthur hides the box under a pillow. His mom comes in. The garage looks very nice, Arthur. She gives Arthur a bill. See, Arthur? A little work and you're a little closer to getting your moon boots.
Arthur looks guilty.
Arthur puts on the Moon Boot in the yard. His dad comes out.
Mr. Read: Arthur? Oh, there you are. Your mother told me you volunteered to clean the garage.
Arthur: Uh, yeah, yeah, I did.
Mr. Read: I hope you put everything back where it was because I hid Mom's birthday present out there. It's that necklace she wanted. Did you put it back where you found it?
Arthur: Oh.
Mr. Read: Okay, great.
He leaves.
Arthur: D’you think maybe he'll forget about the necklace?
Pal: (barks)
He shakes his head.
Arthur: (sighs) I didn't think so, but it was worth a try.
Arthur walks into his dad’s workshop.
Mr. Read: (hums)
Arthur: Dad, I didn't exactly put the necklace back, but I'm going to go get it, okay?
Mr. Read: Okay. Let me know if you need any help. (hums)
Arthur stands on Tibble’s doorstep with the Moon Boot box.
Arthur: So that's what happened. As soon as I return the Moon Boots, I can get you your ten dollars back.
Mrs. Tibble: Well, you're a very honest young man, Arthur.
Arthur: Then I can have the necklace back?
Mrs. Tibble: Of course. Let me just get this pile of leaves picked up before the wind starts again.
Arthur: I'll help.
Mrs. Tibble rakes leaves into a bag that Arthur holds open.
Mrs. Tibble: I just get them raked up and more fall.
Arthur: Hey, Mrs. Tibble, I think I have an idea.
Arthur puts on his Moon Boots in the Tibbles' yard. Buster comes by.
Buster: Hey, Arthur. Cool, Moon Boots. Can I try 'em?
Arthur: Sorry, Buster, I have to do some chores for Mrs. Tibble. She said if I got all the leaves, she'd give me back the necklace I sold her.
Buster: Okay, but can I try the Moon Boots while you rake?
Arthur: Sorry, Buster, but I need 'em. He bounces up as high as the tree and knocks off leaves with the rake. I promised I'd get all the leaves.