Opening[]
A crowd is gathered in front of a circus tent.
Circus Announcer: Hurry! Hurry! Hurry! Step right up! Come see Big Bob's Big Top! Beyond this curtain lies a treasure trove that's ginormous, gigantic, and super-sized! Peek at the Poughkeepsie Pumpkin! Positively perplexing in proportion!
Crowd: Oooh!
Circus Announcer: Pound upon pound, and grown from the ground!
Crowd: Ahhh!
Circus Announcer: Marvel at the mystifying Minnewasaka Meteorite! More massive than a mobile home! And did I mention—it's magnetic?
Crowd: Oooh!
Circus Announcer: And lastly—look upon the Leaden Lump of Elwood City.
Crowd: (gasps)
Circus Announcer: Large...lardy...a lifeless layabout lump of...lumpiness!
Crowd: (gasps)
Circus Announcer: Ah, it's alive! Run for your life!
Crowd: (screams)
Everybody runs away. The lump turns out to be Arthur.
Arthur: No, hey! It's me, Arthur! Come back!
Title Card: "Arthur Weighs In"[]
Binky: "Arthur Weighs In"
One evening, D.W. hears Arthur’s voice coming from his room.
Arthur: For the last time, there's no such thing as a--a g-g-g--ghost? Ahh!
D.W.: You don't sound very scared to me!
Arthur: D.W., I think I need to practice my lines by myself.
D.W.: But Arthur, this is the school play! Your big chance! When you see the ghost, you should be really scared!
Arthur looks out. D.W. starts running in circles in the hallway.
D.W.: Like this! A g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-ghost!! Ahhhhhhhhhhhh—wahhhhh—ahhhhh...agh. Like that. She pretends to faint, then points at Arthur's clothes. Is that what you're wearing for your costume?
Arthur: What's wrong with it?
The button pops off the pants and flies past D.W.'s face.
D.W.: Ahh!
We are now in Arthur's living room. Arthur shows his mom his pants, as they do not fit him.
Arthur wears his normal clothes and shows his good pants to his mom.
Jane Read: They fit when you wore them for Aunt Lucy's wedding. Maybe you've had a growth spurt.
D.W. is out in the hallway.
D.W.: A g-g-g-g-g-g-ghost! Ahh!
Jane Read: OK, D.W.. Why don't you wear your regular pants?
Arthur: Mr. Ratburn says it has to be a suit. I play the owner of this big mansion, and I'm supposed to be really rich. It's essential to my part.
Jane Read: We'll go shopping tomorrow.
We transition to the Mill Creek Mall. We see the outside of Mill Creek Mall. Then, we quickly switch to the inside of the mall, in a clothing store. Inside, Arthur is in a changing cubicle. His mom waits while D.W. sits on a chair looking bored.
Jane Read: Well, how's it going?
Arthur: Mom, no! You can't come in!
Salesman: May I be of assistance?
Jane Read: Oh, we can't seem to find anything that fits.
Salesman: No problem. (He takes Arthur's measurements) 10...25...19. Come with me, young man. I believe I have just the thing for the growing boy!
Arthur smiles. The salesman shows Arthur a green-and-yellow plaid suit in the “Huskee Corner”.
Salesman: Here we are!
Arthur: Um...is that all there is?
Salesman: Our store doesn't carry much in the way of...husky size.
Arthur: Husky size?!
We enter Arthur's dream sequence.
Arthur sees himself standing on stage with the other kids while the audience cheers. He is visibly overweight and wearing the plaid suit. He takes a bow and accidentally knocks Muffy back into a fake wall, which collapses.
Muffy: Aah!
He turns around and knocks Brain into Buster and Binky.
Brain: Yaaah!
Buster: Whoa!
Arthur: (groans)
We exit Arthur's dream sequence.
Jane Read: I think it looks great! You'll really stand out on stage.
D.W.: (laughs)
We transition to the soccer field.
Arthur, Buster and Brain play soccer.
Buster: I'll tell you, there's something fishy about this whole operation, Inspector Curathers. (kicks ball to Brain)
Brain: You can say that again, Jimmy. (kicks back to Buster, who shoots a goal) Arthur, it's your line.
Arthur: (panting, out of breath)
Brain: Arthur?
Arthur: (still panting)
Brain: Arthur, are you alright?
Arthur: I guess I can't talk and run at the same time.
Brain: Oh. Well, let's just sit over here.
Arthur sits down on a bench.
Arthur: Do I look husky to you guys?
Buster: Husky? Husky?! You husky? Nah, you don't look husky. (whispers to Brain) What's husky?
Arthur: It means I'm fat. I had to get new pants yesterday, husky pants.
Buster: Oh.
Arthur: You don't seem surprised.
Buster: Well you're definitely not fat, but you are out of breath, and there has been more of you lately.
Arthur: This is horrible, what am I gonna do?
Buster: I've got it, this is easy! You just need to go on a diet!
Arthur: A diet?
Buster: Don't worry, I know just what to do. I'm an expert on diets. My mom has been on hundreds of them.
We transition to the Reads’ kitchen. Brain is reading a book, while Buster puts food in front of Arthur.
Buster: Now, on the Barleycorn diet, you can eat bacon, cheese, eggs, and hamburgers, but no bread. But if you go on the Bushman's diet, you only eat seeds, berries, and whatever you can pick from a bush, or hunt from a bow and arrow. Or maybe you want the Jackpot diet, you only eat boiled cabbage, three times a day, except Sunday, when you can eat whatever you want.
Arthur: How do you know which diet to pick?
Buster: Uh, it doesn't matter. None of them work. My mom says, not matter how much weight she loses on a diet, she always gains it back.
D.W. comes in and sees all the food.
D.W.: That's your afterschool snack? No wonder you need husky pants.
Brain: According to this book, diets aren't for kids, unless perscribed by a doctor.
Arthur: So what am I supposed to do, just stay fat?
Buster: You're not fat. You're just a little husky.
Brain: It says here instead of dieting, you should eat a variety of foods. In other words, make better choices. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables instead of candy. And stay away from sugary drinks. Drink more water.
D.W.: Don't worry Arthur, I'll help you, and I'll start by getting rid of these. (pulls crackers, which causes everything else to be knocked down.) Oops.
We then transition to a sequence of Arthur attempting to change his diet and exercise routine.
Arthur takes two cookies from a tray in the kitchen. D.W. taps him on the shoulder.
Arthur: Huh?
D.W. takes the cookies and gives him an apple.
We transition to the soccer field.
Arthur sits in the stands watching a soccer game. When he unwraps a candy bar, D.W., who is hiding behind a newspaper behind him, takes the candy and gives him some grapes.
We then transition to the Read's kitchen.
Arthur sneaks up to the kitchen cupboard and takes out a packet of chips. He does not notice that D.W. has put a babyphone in the cupboard. D.W. is watching TV with the other phone beside her. She hears Arthur munching and smiles. She walks into the kitchen with a microphone and a handheld tape recorder.
D.W.: Drop the chips! Place the chips on the counter and step back with your hands in the air!
Arthur drops the chips and grabs an orange.
Arthur's Room[]
Arthur tries to put on his old pants in his room. Brain is with him.
Arthur: (grunts) I'm still fat. I just did what you said. No cookies, no candy, and look, no change!
Brain: Well, it's only been three hours. Maybe you should give it a week or two at least.
Arthur: But I'm supposed to show my costume to Mr. Ratburn my costume tomorrow, and I'm not going to wear that husky suit.
We transition to the school. It is what we can assume is the dress rehearsal for the play.
Arthur, Buster, Brain, Binky and Muffy stand on the stage. Except for Arthur, they are wearing their costumes.
Mr. Ratburn: Well, these costumes all look great.
Muffy: Except Arthur's, he's not wearing one.
Buster: He has one, he just can't fit into it. Yet.
Mr. Ratburn: Yes, well that's fine. See you all tomorrow. Oh, Arthur?
Arthur: Yes?
Mr. Ratburn: Could I have a word with you?
Arthur looks worried.
We transition backstage, where Mr. Ratburn wants to have a talk with Arthur.
Arthur helps Mr. Ratburn bring props on stage. Mr. Ratburn moves a suit of armor on a hand truck, Arthur carries a box.
Arthur: But I still can't fit into my pants.
Mr. Ratburn: You know Arthur, this may come as a surprise to you, but there was a time when I was a real...fatty rat.
Arthur: Really?
Mr. Ratburn: I tried every diet known. But one day I discovered I had a hidden talent.
We enter Mr. Ratburn's flashback
Mr. Ratburn takes a fortuneteller’s crystal ball out of the box. It becomes a ping pong ball in a flashback. A young, overweight Nigel Ratburn sits beside a ping pong table holding a sandwich and the ball.
Mr. Ratburn's Friend: Hey, you found it! Want to play a game? I’m playing by myself, but I keep losing the ball.
Mr. Ratburn plays ping pong with the boy. A montage of older and thinner Nigel Ratburns playing ping pong is shown.
Mr. Ratburn: (narrating) That’s when I discovered I was good at...ping pong! I played constantly, and gradually, without noticing it, I became the fit specimen you see before you today!
We exit Mr. Ratburn's flashback.
Arthur: But I don't know how to play ping pong.
Mr. Ratburn: Oh, the type of exercise doesn't matter, Arthur. The important thing is that you get enough of it.
Arthur: Well, how do I know what's enough?
Mr. Ratburn: Hm...
It's the next day. We are in Mr. Ratburn's classroom.
Mr. Ratburn presents an electronic gadget in class.
Mr. Ratburn: It's called a pedometer. Just simply attach it to your waist, and it will record the number of steps you take.
Binky: Is this for a grade?
Mr. Ratburn: No.
Muffy: Did it come in better colors?
Mr. Ratburn: No.
Buster: Why are we doing this?
Mr.Ratburn: It will show how much exercise you're getting. When you return to class tomorrow, we'll all compare scores.
Binky: I bet I'll get 200 easy.
Francine: I bet I'll get 500.
We transition to the Read's kitchen.
The Read family are having dinner.
D.W.: 800 steps! I don't think I've taken 800 steps in my entire life, and Arthur did it in one day! 800! Is that more than 20?
Arthur: Yeah, I was pretty busy. Wait till everyone else hears. I can't wait to see their looks on their faces!
We transition to the stage at the school. The kids are preparing for the play.
The kids are painting the set for their play on the stage.
Arthur: 7025?
Muffy: And I would've taken even more steps, but I only had one dance class after school, some days I have two.
Arthur: What'd you get?
Brain: 13000, but I had soccer practice. Most days I'm sure it's much, much lower.
Buster: I got 6575, and I don't remember doing anything except following my mom around on her errands.
Arthur: But I did everything, I was busy! I went swimming (shows him not actually swimming, but sitting in a water chair drinking something), I played catch with Pal (shows him just sitting on the sofa throwing the ball while Pal retrieves it), I even did some floor exercises! (shows him just moving his legs around while eating chips and reading comics) I guess when I think about it, I didn't do as much as I thought I did.
It is the next day. We are in Mr. Ratburn's classroom.
In class, Mr. Ratburn underlines the number 10.000 on the blackboard.
Mr.Ratburn: You should aim for 10000 steps a day, but don't feel bad if your score was low, just keep trying! You can always do better. Use your pedometer for a few weeks, and gradually work your way up. (bell rings)
Arthur: (gets up) I know I can do better, and I'm gonna start right now!
We're at Arthur's house.
On the Reads’ TV, a robber runs past a man. Arthur and Buster are watching.
Citizen (on TV): Just look at that guy go! He's three blocks ahead of Bionic Bunny! But wait, he's slowing down.
Arthur: Maybe I should start walking now.
Buster: Nah, wait till this is over, you'll miss the best part.
D.W. stands in the doorway.
D.W.: Arthur, if you do your line right on the school play, you might get a part on Bionic Bunny!
Buster: You think Arthur could play Bionic Bunny?
D.W.: No, that guy there!
On TV, Bionic Bunny leads away the captured robber.
Arthur: That's it!
He walks out of the room.
We enter a montage of Arthur improving his diet and exercise routine.
Arthur’s pedometer rises to 800. He walks with Pal through the park. He stops at an ice-cream stand. When he points at ice-cream, Pal tugs on his leash. Arthur points at frozen yogurt instead.
Arthur tries to enter the Sugar Bowl. Buster comes out wagging his finger and gives Arthur a bottle of water.
Arthur’s pedometer rises to 4125. Arthur jumps rope while watching Bionic Bunny.
Arthur’s pedometer rises to over 5000. Arthur plays soccer with Buster and Brain. He takes the ball from Buster.
Arthur’s pedometer rises to over 7000. He turns off the TV.
At over 9000 he turns off another TV show.
Arthur’s pedometer rises to 12000.
We then exit Arthur's montage. D.W. lies on Arthur’s bed while Arthur puts on his suit.
D.W.: Don't be nervous. You'll be great. Oh, I'm so scared. What if you forget your lines?
Arthur: I won't forget. We've had three weeks to rehearse. And besides, everybody else will be on stage with me. Well, here goes. (successfully buttons up his pants) They fit!
D.W.: Wow! (high-fives Arthur)
We enter the school. It is time for the play.
Arthur, Brain and Buster perform on stage while Mrs. Powers takes photos with flash.
Arthur: For the last time, there is no such thing as a...
Binky as the ghost comes from behind.
Binky: (makes ghost noises)
Arthur: A g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-ghost!! Ahhhhhhhhhhhh—wahhhhh—ahhhhh...agh.
He runs in a circle and pretends to faint. From the floor he winks at D.W.
D.W.: That was my idea!
The curtain opens and the kids take a bow.