Mr. Ratburn’s class is doing a reading assignment. Arthur looks at the camera.
Arthur: Buster Baxter has always been my best friend starting on that momentous day when we first met.
Flashback: An about three-year-old Arthur sits in a sandbox. Buster approaches.
Young Buster: Hi. I'm Buster.
Young Arthur: My name's Arthur.
Young Buster: Hi. Well, see ya.
He walks away. Arthur pours sand over himself.
Flashback: Arthur and Buster ride their bikes side by side.
Arthur (narrator): We knew we were going to be best friends.
Flashback: Arthur and Buster play checkers in Arthur’s room wearing their masks from “Staycation”.
Flashback: Arthur and Buster watch ‘Love Ducks’ in the Reads’ living room.
Buster: This is the single weirdest thing I ever saw.
Arthur: Uh-huh.
Flashback: Arthur and Buster read comics while hanging upside down on the jungle gym.
The flashbacks end.
Arthur: Yup, Buster Baxter has always been my best friend. At least until this week.
He looks at Buster’s seat which is suddenly empty.
~~~
Title Card: Smart Buster fall into the portal
~~~
In class, Mr. Ratburn shows a newspaper with a photo of Brain wearing a #1 ribbon while a man shakes his hand.
Mr. Ratburn: In case you didn't hear the news, class, the winner of this year's statewide science competition is our own Alan Powers.
Class: (cheer)
Brain looks flattered.
Brain: I stand on the shoulders of giants.
~~~
After school, the kids leave the building.
Arthur: I don't get what the problem is.
Brain: Brain won that award by doing a report about bacteria in the water fountain, right?
Arthur: Right.
Buster: I always said there was something strange about that fountain, remember?
Flashback: Buster drinks from the fountain at the playground while Arthur stands next to him.
Buster: Fish. Definitely fish with just a hint of feet.
~~~
The flashback ends. Arthur and Buster are now in Arthur’s room.
Arthur: So? You were right.
Brain: But I didn't get an award.
Arthur: Buster, everyone knew the water tasted like feet. But Brain was the only one who compared it to actual feet. He studied it.
D.W. comes in eating a yoghurt.
Buster: Well, there's a reason I didn't.
D.W.: Cause you never study anything ever?
Buster: No! Well, yes. But that's not the real reason.
Flashback: Mrs. Baxter takes a young Buster to a preschool that has mathematical formulae printed on the windows.
Buster (narrator): See, when I was little, my mom took me to this special preschool for brainy kids. They gave me all these tests to find out how smart I was.
While other preschoolers are either reading or working on computers, Buster sits at a table with a lady. There is a glass jug with round objects on the table and one with square objects. The lady puts a marble in front of Buster.
Lady: I want you to take this marble and decide where it should go.
Buster scratches his head.
Lady: What do you think? Where does the marble belong?
Buster picks up the marble and looks at it.
Lady: Where does the marble go?
The outside of the preschool is shown.
Lady: Oh no!
Mrs. Baxter: Buster!
The flashback ends. Arthur stares at Buster.
Arthur: You put the marble... up your nose??
Buster: I know, I know. But the answer was so obvious that I figured it had to be a trick question.
D.W.: Good thing they weren't using watermelons.
Buster: (sighs) If I didn't try to outsmart that test, my whole life would have been different.
D.W.: You should never put a marble up your nose, Buster! Even the Tibbles know that!
Arthur and Buster leave the house. D.W. leans out of an upstairs window.
D.W.: Even Baby Kate knows that, and she's a baby, it's right in her name!
~~~
Arthur and Buster have drinks in the Sugar Bowl.
Buster: If I'd gone to that preschool for geniuses, I would have come out just as smart as the Brain.
Arthur: If only you could go back in time.
Buster: Yeah, if I'd gone to that brainy preschool, I'd probably know how to do that by now. Hey, you think that's possible? To go back in time?
Arthur: No.
Buster: No offense, Arthur, but I'm gonna get a second opinion. Brain?
Brain is eating chocolate pudding next to Buster.
Brain: (gulps) Arthur's right.
Buster: Well, I'm gonna get a third opinion.
Brain: From whom?
Buster: From somebody who's done it.
He pays and leaves. Arthur and Brain exchange confused looks.
~~~
That evening, Buster reads a ‘Professor Timekeeper’ comic.
Buster: “Time travel is most definitely possible, and I can prove it.” “But how, Professor Timekeeper?” “It’s simple. Because of gravitational… big word, big word, big word [proportionality hypothesis and antichronological bisecting of the time axis] … I can therefore… er… big word, big word [portificate the transposition] … back in time.” (yawns) Makes total sense to me. “These time passageways can appear anywhere.” If only...
He falls asleep.
In his dream, a spiraling time portal appears in Buster's room. Buster “wakes” with a start.
Buster: Augh! A passageway. Ah-aaah!
He falls into the portal.
~~~
A preschool age Buster is sitting in the brainy preschool again holding the marble.
Lady: The point is to have fun.
Young Buster: Huh? The marble! It's happening again!
Lady: Now I want you to decide where that marble belongs.
Young Buster: (sniffs the marble)
Lady: Where does the marble go?
Young Buster: Oh... I... I know.
He holds the marble over the jug with the squares and makes it disappear.
Mrs. Baxter: Hh!
Lady: Hh!
Buster reaches behind her ear and pulls out the marble.
Young Buster: Here it is!
He throws it in the jug with the spheres.
Lady: Ohh! I love magic! How did you do that?
Mrs. Baxter: Yes, how did you do that?
Young Buster: Erm... just... you know... from a book.
Mrs. Baxter+Lady: A book??
Young Buster smiles. Then he falls off his seat into the time portal.
~~~
Eight-year-old Buster wakes up in his bed.
Buster: (yawns) Augh!
His room has changed. There are science posters on the wall and the shelves have books with complicated titles on them. On the floor is the newspaper, showing Buster as the winner instead of Brain.
Buster: It worked!
He runs out onto the balcony.
Buster: I'm a genius!!
~~~
In the kitchen, Buster rinses his cereal bowl while his mom talks on the phone. Buster is wearing a white shirt with pens sticking out of the pocket, a bicycle helmet and glasses instead of his usual clothes.
Mrs. Baxter: That's really great to hear, Carol. Sounds like it's going to be a feature article. Oh, hang on. Where are you going?
Buster: To school. I wanna go by Arthur's on the way and show him this. He's gonna be so amazed.
He fastens the #1 ribbon to his chest.
Mrs. Baxter: You can't bike to school, honey. It's much too far.
Buster: Oh... right... I go to that other school in the morning now.
Mrs. Baxter: When the bus takes you back to Lakewood Elementary in the afternoon, then you can show everyone your ribbon.
Buster: Right.
He takes off the helmet and leaves. Mrs. Baxter gets back on the phone.
Mrs. Baxter: Talk about absent-minded geniuses. Buster just forgot he takes advanced placement classes in the morning.
~~~
Buster rides in a school bus full of brainy-looking kids.
Kids: (Oh, wow! Cool!)
Brainy Girl: I knew your testing of the water would produce impressive results, Buster Baxter, but who could have imagined this.
The bus stops at a traffic light right next to Arthur, who is waiting for the green light alone.
Buster: Hey, it's Arthur. Arthur! Look!
He holds his ribbon against the window. Arthur looks indifferent and the bus drives off.
Buster: He didn't even wave.
Brainy Girl: I'm just hazarding a guess. By considering the solar azimuth...
Brainy Boy: Along with the angle of incidence...
Buster: You're saying... the sun got in his eyes.
Brainy Girl: Precisely.
Buster: Ah... That makes sense.
~~~
In the afternoon, the bus drops Buster off in front of Lakewood Elementary.
Buster: Fascinating class! See you all tomorrow!
~~~
Buster walks into Mr. Ratburn’s class.
Mr. Ratburn: Well, look who's here.
Buster: Am I late?
Mr. Ratburn: Hahaha. Class, in case you didn't hear the news, the winner of this year's statewide science competition is our own Buster Baxter.
Buster: I, er... did it by standing on giant brains.
Class: (Ugh! Gross!)
Arthur does not respond at all, but looks sadly at his desk.
Mr. Ratburn: Your investigation and scientific insights are very inspiring. Thank you for stopping by.
Buster: Oh, that's right. I'm not in this class. I skipped third grade.
Mr. Ratburn: I'm sure you don't want to be late for algebra.
Buster points to his ribbon.
Buster: Hey, Arthur, look! Cool, huh?
Arthur briefly looks up and scratches his chin, then he goes on working. Binky is sitting next to him. Buster walks away sadly.
~~~
The school bell rings and the kids run out. Buster is alone.
~~~
Later, Buster walks to the Sugar Bowl. It is in disrepair and the “W” is about to fall off. Rattles and Binky block the entrance.
Binky: Where do you think you're going?
Buster: Hey, Binky. I need to find Arthur.
Binky: Well, you can't go in. Tough Customers only. So go make like an egg and scram... ble.
The brainy girl from the bus looks out of a car right behind Buster.
Brainy Girl: Buster, there you are! We’re late for robotics workshop.
Buster: Oh...
He gets into the car.
Binky and Rattles walk into the Sugar Bowl. Buster sees Arthur coming along. He is wearing a black leather jacket and sunglasses.
Buster: Oh no! Someone needs to warn Arthur. The Sugar Bowl is for Tough Customers only now. Uh-oh!
The car drives off.
Arthur walks into the Sugar Bowl looking grim.
Buster: Binky: So, yeah, this...
Everyone freezes. Inside are Binky, Rattles, Molly, Slink, Kiefer, Fletcher, the burly rabbit boy, the two bullies from the introduction to “The Last Customer” and Los Dedos. They all stare apprehensively at Arthur.
Arthur: What's up?
Tough Customers: Woohoo!
Arthur: Binky, soda me!
Binky: Sure thing, Spex. Whatever you say. Spex needs this!
He takes away Rattles’ can of soda and gives it to Arthur.
Binky: Here you go, Spex. I hope you like it. What took you so long?
Arthur: I had to take the long way round. Some brainy kid's been waving at me all day. Ah. Gives me the creeps, I tell ya.
~~~
The next morning, Buster walks into the kitchen where is mom is drinking coffee.
Mrs. Baxter: Don't forget it's Saturday. You have to finish your computer coding project.
Buster: I just need to see Arthur first.
~~~
Later, Buster stands in front of the Read house with his bike. D.W. looks out of an upstairs window.
D.W.: Arthur isn't home. He's with his dopey friends.
Buster: B-b-but I'm his dopey friend! Me! I am! Oh, the irony.
He rides away.
~~~
Buster talks to Jack outside Jack’s Joke Shop.
Buster: Have you seen Arthur?
Jack shakes his head, so does his dummy.
~~~
Buster talks to Amanda, who is sitting on the play tower. She shakes her head.
~~~
Buster talks to Brain, who is playing baseball and is just up to bat.
Brain: I haven't seen him, but...
Buster: Yes?
He looks hopeful.
Brain: Would you sign my autograph book?
Buster looks disappointed.
~~~
Buster enters Meteor Comix. There are several kids, but he cannot see Arthur.
Buster: (sad sigh)
He picks up a Love Ducks comic, just as Arthur grabs it too.
Buster: Sorry.
Arthur: I got it first! What?! Love ducks?? This is for babies! Here!
He gives Buster the comic and looks haughty.
Buster: But you love the Love Ducks, Arthur. They're so bizarre.
Arthur: True that. I mean... only if you're not cool. And if you're really such a big brain, you won't tell the other Tough Customers you saw me with that.
Buster: Arthur! You mean... you're a Tough Customer? Since when?
Arthur: Since forever.
Flashback: Young Arthur sits in the sandbox right before he first met Buster. Only this time, Mrs. Baxter leads Buster past him.
Mrs. Baxter: Hurry up, Buster. You don't want to be late for your new preschool.
Young Binky walks up to Arthur.
Young Binky: Hey! What do you think you're doing in my sandbox?!
Young Arthur: It's not your sandbox!
Young Binky: Oh yeah!
Young Arthur: Yeah!
They glare at each other.
Young Binky: Hey, I like your style.
The flashback ends.
Buster: You mean, we were never friends.
Arthur scratches his cheek, as if unsure of himself.
Arthur: Me?? Friends with someone who likes Love Ducks?! Come on! I mean... maybe if I had a friend who liked checkers and Love Ducks and other uncool stuff, my whole life could have been different. But it isn't!
He walks away looking both sad and grumpy.
Arthur: Love ducks! Sheesh! This place is getting uncool!
He leaves the store.
Buster: Arthur needs me!
The time portal appears behind Buster and pulls him in.
Buster: Aaaaahh!!
~~~
Buster wakes up in his bed in the morning. His room looks normal again.
Buster: Huh? No ribbon? No newspaper? What's the square root of 49? I don't know.
He stands up in bed.
Buster: I don't know! I'm back!
~~~
Not much later, Arthur opens the door to Buster. Arthur is still in his pajamas and looks sleepy.
Arthur: (yawns) Of course I know who you are, Buster
Buster: And you aren't cool! Yeahh!!
He runs into the house while Arthur scratches his head in confusion.
~~~
Later, Arthur, Buster and D.W. are having breakfast in the Reads’ kitchen.
Arthur: Wanna play checkers later?
Buster: I have a better idea. You know how my locker sort of smells like a goat? I think we should study it.
Arthur: Really?
Buster: Yeah! But first we need to make a scientific comparison.
Arthur: Wanna go to the zoo?
Buster: Yeah. Let's go smell some goats!
Arthur: Okay.
The boys take their dishes away and leave.
D.W.: (sighs) Some days I'm glad I'm not a genius.