The Blizzard

"The Blizzard"
Main image Title card
Season/Series:	4
Number in season:	5A
Original Airdate:	October 11, 1999
Credits
Written by:	Joe Fallon
Storyboard by:	Alex Hawley
Episodes
Previous "Prove It"	Next "The Rat Who Came to Dinner"

Read transcript

"The Blizzard" is the first half of the fifth episode in the fourth season of Arthur.

Summary

A big snow and ice storm knocks out the electricity in Elwood City, sending everyone scrambling to the supermarket.

Plot

The episode starts with a polar bear eating a marshmallow, and Arthur regretting his want for snow, whilst walking Pal in a blizzard - "you have to walk your dog" and then later being called home by D.W. - who then asks about the polar bear, which Arthur dismisses.

After the title screen, the weather forecaster predicts a little snow, but Arthur wants more so that school will be closed. David puts Arthur to bed, reinforcing that it'll be just a light dusting of snow.

Unfortunately, despite more snow than was expected (still snowing when Arthur comes downstairs, not yet dressed for school - still hoping it's shut), Lakewood Elementary is open - the weather will turn sunny and no other schools are shut either - Arthur: "Why do weathermen never say the right thing". Upon getting to school, Francine informs Buster and Arthur that she didn't finish her report on the pioneers because they were "d-u-u-u-u-u-u-l-l--ll--l".

The power cuts out and school is closed, the kids have to give in homework on the way out and Francine is made to do a 3-page report while everyone else plays in the snow. Francine continues to struggle with her report.

Meanwhile, the Reads are cutting paths in the snow and D.W. remarks how deep it is - not as deep, however, as Dave remembers it once was - over his head -, but Jane reminds him he was smaller than D.W. at the time. The storm gets worse and they all head inside, which leads to the snow fantasies of Kate - a toy factory, and Pal - a BBQ. Francine's power cuts out meaning she can't finish her computerized report and has to go in the snow, but her father forces her to continue writing with a pencil.

At the school, Mr Morris forces Ratburn and Haney to stay behind and keep the pipes from freezing - school may be closed for a month, to Ratburn's horror.

Prunella gives Brain a psychic reading, there'll be more snow and Brain will meet a tall, dark stranger, which is confirmed by the weatherman on the radio. Brain is stuck there, as his power is out, annoyed with Prunella's constant "powers". Haney accidentally gets himself and Ratburn stuck overnight to prevent frozen pipes, luckily there's plenty of beans!

After snow falls, a period of freezing rain then ensues, leading to numerous power outages across Elwood City and D.W. says that the town is exploding - and it's very pretty.

Francine tries again to get out of doing her report now it's too cold to write, but Mr Frensky is having nothing of it and calls the Reads - Francine can work there as they still have power and Dave will get food in.

No deliveries can get in to the store, and Mr Crosswire has the last of many things. Dave's supply is looking smaller and smaller. Meanwhile in the school, Haney's moaning about the beans - why eat them when they have the cafeteria food to choose from?

However, it is all frozen and - according to Morris - inedible. Haney wants to go home - he hates school. Ratburn has to reassure the school it was only a joke! The Crosswires also have no power and no-one can fix it even for a million dollars.

Dave picks up his mother and Buster as they too have no power. Jane had invited all who needed warmth, so the house is quite full everyone brought food so stew will be made.

The power cuts in the Read household - everyone's going to die in a heap according to D.W., but Dave's going to cook on the camping stove and Mr Frensky has an idea to stay warm - huddle near the fire. Buster warns all to not practice the tuba, as he did at home earlier and it was so cold in the house that his mouth froze to the tuba for two hours.

The Crosswires may have a way of keeping warm that no-one else can afford, but they don't and are soon invited over to the Reads, however Mr Crosswire didn't bring food, so the stew portions may be a little smaller. Francine realizes that they are today much like the pioneers and her report is nearing completion.

The storm ends, Prunella remarks "I told you so" (presumably to Brain) over and over, and it is time to dig out. Francine concludes that we all need each other to help each other - they all dig out the Reads' garden, Crosswire fetches his food and the men inside the school are rescued.

We all need each other's help - like the pioneers, and so Francine's report is done. The power returns as everyone has enjoyed the snow and D.W. brings her snowball into the house freeze to remind her of this day setting up the events for D.W.'s Snow Mystery.

Characters

Major Roles

• Arthur Read
• D.W. Read
• David Read
• Jane Read
• Francine Frensky
• Buster Baxter
• Nigel Ratburn
• Francis Haney
• Mr. Morris
• Ed Crosswire
• Oliver Frensky

Minor Roles

• Pal
• Kate Read
• Prunella Deegan
• Alan Powers
• Mrs. Powers (voice only)
• Muffy Crosswire
• Thora Read
• Millicent Crosswire
• Dr. Jake

Background

• Maria Pappas
• Rattles
• John
• Sue Ellen Armstrong
• George Lundgren
• Fern Walters
• Jenna Morgan
• Binky Barnes
• 3rd Grade Male Aardvark
• Laverne Frensky
• Leah MacGrady
• Bitzi Baxter
• Mrs. Wood
• Catherine Frensky
• Mr. Powers
• Wanda Deegan

Trivia

• Rattles can be seen twice struggling to ride a bike in the storm.
• The Crosswires had a Cordless Phone and it had power when there is no power for a cordless phone.
• This episode is the prequel to D.W.'s Snow Mystery.
• The final scene where D.W. saves a snowball and puts it in the freezer is taken from D.W.'s Snow Mystery. The animation from that episode was re-used (notice how the characters are drawn slightly differently and the colors aren't as bright), as well as Jane Read's dialogue, however D.W.'s dialogue was re-recorded with Oliver Grainger providing her voice for the sake of preserving continuity throughout the episode.

Errors

• At the end, when Jane closes the freezer, she keeps pushing it. But when the inside view is seen, the freezer door is still a few seconds, and then it closes.
• During the scene when Ed picks up his cordless telephone to converse with David, it should have been impossible to operate since cordless telephones require electricity at the base.
• Catherine's hair is brown in this episode rather than the usual dark red.

Gallery

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Videos

Arthur Snow Day PBS KIDS GO!

Screenshots

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See also

• "The Blackout"