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{{youmay|the episode|[[Arthur's Teacher Moves In|the book]]}}
 
{{Episode infobox
  
{{Episode infobox
−
|ep. name = The Rat Who Came To Dinner
 +
|ep. name = The Rat Who Came to Dinner
 
|image = The Rat Who Came to Dinner.JPG
  
|image = The Rat Who Came to Dinner.JPG
 
|season = [[Season 4|4]]
  
|season = [[Season 4|4]]
Line 9: Line 10:
 
|next episode = [[D.W. Tale Spins]]
  
|next episode = [[D.W. Tale Spins]]
 
|writers = [[Joe Fallon]]
  
|writers = [[Joe Fallon]]
−
|storyboarders = [[Maria Astadjova]]<br>[[Jeremy O'Neill]]|number = 5B|titlecard = The Rat Who Came To Dinner Title Card.png}}{{EpisodeHeader|2|5|4|book2=[[Arthur's Teacher Moves In]]}}
 +
|storyboarders = [[Maria Astadjova]]<br>[[Jeremy O'Neill]]
  +
|number = 5B
  ⚫
|titlecard = The Rat Who Came To Dinner Title Card.png
  +
}}
  +
{{EpisodeHeader|2|5|4|book2=[[Arthur's Teacher Moves In]]}}
   
 
==Summary==
  
==Summary==
−
When Mr. Ratburn's roof collapses, Arthur's parents invite him to stay at their house, and Arthur is afraid that means his teacher will be grading him every minute.
 +
When [[Nigel Ratburn|Mr. Ratburn]]'s roof collapses, [[Arthur Read|Arthur]]'s parents invite him to stay at [[Arthur's House|their house]]. Arthur is afraid that this means his teacher will be grading him every minute.
   
 
==Plot==
  
==Plot==
  +
Arthur goes to the garage to ask [[David Read|David]] to play. His dad turns around, revealing he is really Mr. Ratburn, who tells Arthur that there's no time for play, and they have a lot of work to do. Arthur tells Mr. Ratburn he's looking for his dad. Mr. Ratburn thinks Arthur is joking, and tells him to put down the ball and help him stuff turkeys for the Crosswires' big party. Arthur goes to the living room to find his mom, [[Jane Read|Jane]]. He tells her that he went up to the garage to talk to his dad and he's not there. She turns her head, revealing she's Mr. Ratburn, too, and she says "He was out there a minute ago." Arthur walks backward away from her. Then he bumps into [[D.W. Read|D.W.]], who turns around and says " Hey, watch where you're going!". She is Mr. Ratburn, as well! Arthur is afraid, and asks "What's going on? Where's my family?" Mr. Ratburn as David comes in and tells "Arthur Ratburn" to "stop fooling around and get to work!" Arthur looks down and sees [[Pal]] as Mr. Ratburn. Arthur yells "No!" He wakes up to discover this was all a dream. After waking up, he remarks how bad it would be to have your teacher live at your house. Just then, Mr. Ratburn comes into Arthur's room, asking him to hurry before he and D.W. finish the blueberry waffles his father made.
−
Mr. Ratburn's roof collapsed, so he's staying at Arthur's house much to his shock. He feels scared, so he tries to distract him reluctantly. But then, Mr. Ratburn asks Arthur to put on Spooky-Poo, which Jane hadn't seen since she was 10. Later, he did a magic trick, to Arthur and D.W.'s shock. He teaches it to his family to their surprise. Later, they watched more Spooky-Poo. During dinner, David made Mr. Ratburn chocolate cake. At bedtime, Arthur decided Mr. Ratburn wasn't bad after all. The next day, Arthur's friends find out that Mr. Ratburn's stay last night was good, so they treat Arthur differently. When Arthur got home, he told his parents about it. The next day at lunch, Mr. Ratburn gave Arthur news of staying at each of his friends' house, finishing the episode.
  
  +
  +
<center>'''The Rat Who Came to Dinner'''</center>
  +
  +
Mr. Ratburn talks to a [[Gunky|roofer]] about cracks in his ceiling caused by a heavy layer of snow. Just as the roofer assures him the roof will hold, part of it falls in.
  +
  +
Arthur prepares for a relaxing weekend when Jane tells him that Mr. Ratburn will be staying at their house until his roof is fixed. Arthur is horrified but cannot talk his parents out of it. Arthur imagines that Mr. Ratburn will permanently quiz him.
  +
  +
Arthur borrows books and a poster from [[Alan Powers|Brain]] to make his room look more impressive. When Mr. Ratburn arrives, D.W. asks him if what Arthur said about him hating all children is true.
  +
  +
Mr. Ratburn turns out to be quite casual out of school. He has brought [[Spooky Poo]] videos which the whole family enjoys. He also teaches Arthur a magic trick and is delighted when David bakes a cake for him.
  +
  +
On Monday, however, Arthur gets an A on a test and all of his friends are angry, because they think Mr. Ratburn is giving him special treatment. This leads to them denying anything he wants or asks. Brain hands Arthur a drawing from [[Fern Walters|Fern]]: a doodle of Arthur and Mr. Ratburn, with the words "Rat" and Rat Jr."
  +
  +
At home, Arthur tells his parents about what's going on, and Mr. Ratburn overhears because D.W. gave him a juice can to listen their conversation. Arthur suggests that Mr. Ratburn give him an F, to prove he's really not a teacher's pet, but Mr. Ratburn works out something different.
  +
  +
The next day when Arthur's friends tease him, Mr. Ratburn announces that he won't be staying at Arthur's anymore. He tells the kids that he will take turns staying at their homes. At first, everyone is shocked. Then they ask Arthur what it was like. He tells them not to mind if people call them “teacher’s pet”, and that they should like Spooky Poo.
   
 
==Characters==
  
==Characters==
 
===Major===
  
===Major===
 
*[[Arthur Read]]
  
*[[Arthur Read]]
−
*[[Nigel Ratburn]]
 +
*[[Nigel Ratburn|Mr. Ratburn]]
 
*[[D.W. Read]]
  
*[[D.W. Read]]
 
*[[Jane Read]]
  
*[[Jane Read]]
 
*[[David Read]]
  
*[[David Read]]
 
*[[Kate Read]]
  
*[[Kate Read]]
−  
 
===Minor===
  
===Minor===
  +
*[[Gunky]] (as the roofer)
 
*[[Pal]]
  
*[[Pal]]
 
*[[Buster Baxter]]
  
*[[Buster Baxter]]
−
*[[Fern Walters]]
 +
*[[Fern Walters]] (does not speak)
−
*[[Alan Powers]]
 +
*[[Alan Powers|Brain]]
 
*[[Francine Frensky]]
  
*[[Francine Frensky]]
 
*[[Muffy Crosswire]]
  
*[[Muffy Crosswire]]
 
*[[Binky Barnes]]
  
*[[Binky Barnes]]
  +
===Cameo===
  +
*[[George Lundgren]]
  +
*[[Patrick (4th grader)]]
  +
*[[Fletcher]]
  +
*[[4th Grade Male Rabbit]]
  +
*[[Norman Hedgehog]]
  +
*[[Jack Weasel]]
  +
*[[3rd Grade Male Rabbit]]
  +
*[[3rd Grade Male Dog (Number 3)]]
  +
*[[Jessica (3rd grader)]]
  +
*[[Alex Davidson]]
  +
*[[Maria Pappas]]
  +
*[[Mary (3rd grader)]]
  +
*[[Billy]]
  +
*[[Rattles]]
  +
*[[Jenna Morgan]]
  +
*[[Nancy]]
  +
*[[3rd Grade Male Dog]]
  +
*[[3rd Grade Female Aardvark]]
  +
*[[3rd Grade Female Cat (Number 2)]]
  +
*Debi
   
 
==Trivia==
  
==Trivia==
  +
*DW introduced herself to Mr. Ratburn and he didn't know her, though they've already met.
−
*Arthur's phone has only nine buttons instead of tweleve.
 +
*Arthur's phone has only nine buttons instead of twelve.
−
*A running gag throughout this episode is that D.W. is constantly butchering Mr. Ratburn's name (saying Mr. Ratburn's name incorrectly), and Mr. Ratburn ignores her.
  
  +
*'''Running Gag:''' [[D.W. Read|D.W.]] saying Mr. Ratburn's name incorrectly in different ways.
  +
*This is Jane Read's 100th appearance in the series.
 
===Cultural references===
  
===Cultural references===
  ⚫
*The episode's title refers to the famous play ''{{W|The Man Who Came to Dinner}}''.
⚫
*''[[Spooky Poo]]'' is a parody of the television show Scooby Doo, since Jane mentioned that she hadn't seen Spooky Poo since her pre teen days.
  
  +
*In Arthur's imagination, Mr. Ratburn spoofs the "{{W|This Is Your Brain on Drugs}}" campaign.
−
===Episode connections===
  
  ⚫
*''[[Spooky Poo]]'' is a parody of the television show ''{{W|Scooby-Doo}}''.
−
*"[[The Blizzard]]" was also a "Snowy" story. It is implied that this episode takes place immediately afterward.
  
  +
*The outside view of the house while everyone says goodnight alludes to ''{{W|The Waltons}}''.
⚫
*The episode<nowiki>'s title is a play on the famous play ''The Man Who Came to Dinner''</nowiki>.
  
   
 
==Gallery==
  
==Gallery==
 
{{CollapsingGallery|
  
{{CollapsingGallery|
 
===Screenshots===
  
===Screenshots===
−
<gallery>
 +
<gallery widths="185">
  +
0405b 01 David Ratburn.jpg|David Ratburn
−
Theratwhocametodinner_-_binky_snowball.jpg
  
  ⚫
4x05 0209.png|"What's going on?"
⚫
The Rat Who Came to Dinner.JPG
  
−
TheRatWhoCameToDinner 004.jpeg
 +
TheRatWhoCameToDinner 004.jpeg|Arthur's nightmare
  +
0405b 02 Pal Ratburn.jpg|Pal Ratburn
−
TheRatWhoCameToDinner 006.jpeg
 +
TheRatWhoCameToDinner 006.jpeg|Nightmare come true
⚫
4x05_0209.png|"What's going on?"
  
  +
0405b 03 Roofer.jpg|The roofer
⚫
Screen Shot 2015-09-20 at 4.20.57 PM.png
  
  +
0405b 04 Snow Fort.jpg|Snow fort
  +
0405b 05 This is your brain.jpg|"This is your brain when you watch junky TV."
  +
0405b 06 hating all children.jpg|"Mr. Ratbite, is it true what Arthur says about you hating all children?"
  +
The Rat Who Came to Dinner.JPG|"I don't always dress like I’m going to school."
  +
0405b 07 Mr. Ratburn and Kate.jpg|Mr. Ratburn and Kate
  +
0405b 08 D.W.s Room.jpg|Arthur in D.W.'s room
  +
0405b 09 Cartoon.jpg|Fern's cartoon
  +
Theratwhocametodinner - binky snowball.jpg|"Hey! What's with everybody?"
  ⚫
Screen Shot 2015-09-20 at 4.20.57 PM.png|"But what would you think if you were a kid?"
  +
Baby_Kate%27s_pajamas.png
  +
1999-10-04 - 406b-The Rat Who Came To Dinner 004.jpg
  +
Bio Bits -2.png
  +
Dunce Patrol.png
  +
Duns Patrol.png
  +
Einstein poster.png
  +
Mr. Ratburn's House Inside.PNG
  +
Mr. Ratburn's House Snow.PNG
  +
Mr. Ratburn's House with snow.PNG
 
Muffy and Buster mad (Rat who came to Dinner) 1.png
  
Muffy and Buster mad (Rat who came to Dinner) 1.png
−
Muffy and Buster mad (Rat who came to Dinner) 2.png
 +
Muffy and Buster mad (Rat who came to Dinner) 2.png|"She means we can all get As if we brought the teacher home..."
 
Muffy and Buster mad (Rat who came to Dinner) 3.png
  
Muffy and Buster mad (Rat who came to Dinner) 3.png
  +
Rat and Rat Jr.jpg
  +
Ratburncasualclothes.png
  +
Ratburnspookypooclothes.png
  +
Ratburnwinterclothes.png
  +
Spookypoo.png
  +
Spookypoocharacters.png
  +
Spookypooghost.png
  +
Spookypooscene.png
  +
Spookypootapes.png
  +
The Rat Who Came to Dinner - Cafeteria.jpg
 
</gallery>}}
  
</gallery>}}
  +
  +
==Home Video==
  +
===VHS===
  +
*[[Arthur's Snow Day (VHS)|Arthur's Snow Day]]
  +
  +
===DVD===
  +
*[[Arthur's Snow Day (DVD)|Arthur's Snow Day]]
   
 
==References==
  
==References==
 
{{Reflist}}
  
{{Reflist}}
 
{{EpisodeNav|4}}
  
{{EpisodeNav|4}}
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{{TitleSort}}
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[[Category:Episodes]]
  
 
[[Category:Season 4 episodes]]
  
[[Category:Season 4 episodes]]
−
[[Category:Pages needing attention]]
  
 
[[Category:Episode pages without home video]]
  
[[Category:Episode pages without home video]]
 
[[Category:A to Z]]
  
[[Category:A to Z]]
 
[[Category:Arthur episodes]]
  
[[Category:Arthur episodes]]
 
[[Category:Pages with Wikipedia links]]
  
[[Category:Pages with Wikipedia links]]
  ⚫
[[Category: Winter episodes]]

Latest revision as of 00:00, 19 April 2024

This article is about the episode. You may be looking for the book.
"The Rat Who Came to Dinner"

The Rat Who Came to Dinner

The Rat Who Came To Dinner Title Card

Season/Series: 4
Number in season: 5B
Original Airdate: United States October 11, 1999
Canada January 21, 2000[1]
Credits
Written by: Joe Fallon
Storyboard by: Maria Astadjova
Jeremy O'Neill
Episodes
Previous
"The Blizzard" 		Next
"D.W. Tale Spins"
Read transcript

"The Rat Who Came to Dinner" is the second half of the fifth episode in the fourth season of Arthur. It was later adapted into the book Arthur's Teacher Moves In.

Summary

When Mr. Ratburn's roof collapses, Arthur's parents invite him to stay at their house. Arthur is afraid that this means his teacher will be grading him every minute.

Plot

Arthur goes to the garage to ask David to play. His dad turns around, revealing he is really Mr. Ratburn, who tells Arthur that there's no time for play, and they have a lot of work to do. Arthur tells Mr. Ratburn he's looking for his dad. Mr. Ratburn thinks Arthur is joking, and tells him to put down the ball and help him stuff turkeys for the Crosswires' big party. Arthur goes to the living room to find his mom, Jane. He tells her that he went up to the garage to talk to his dad and he's not there. She turns her head, revealing she's Mr. Ratburn, too, and she says "He was out there a minute ago." Arthur walks backward away from her. Then he bumps into D.W., who turns around and says " Hey, watch where you're going!". She is Mr. Ratburn, as well! Arthur is afraid, and asks "What's going on? Where's my family?" Mr. Ratburn as David comes in and tells "Arthur Ratburn" to "stop fooling around and get to work!" Arthur looks down and sees Pal as Mr. Ratburn. Arthur yells "No!" He wakes up to discover this was all a dream. After waking up, he remarks how bad it would be to have your teacher live at your house. Just then, Mr. Ratburn comes into Arthur's room, asking him to hurry before he and D.W. finish the blueberry waffles his father made.

The Rat Who Came to Dinner

Mr. Ratburn talks to a roofer about cracks in his ceiling caused by a heavy layer of snow. Just as the roofer assures him the roof will hold, part of it falls in.

Arthur prepares for a relaxing weekend when Jane tells him that Mr. Ratburn will be staying at their house until his roof is fixed. Arthur is horrified but cannot talk his parents out of it. Arthur imagines that Mr. Ratburn will permanently quiz him.

Arthur borrows books and a poster from Brain to make his room look more impressive. When Mr. Ratburn arrives, D.W. asks him if what Arthur said about him hating all children is true.

Mr. Ratburn turns out to be quite casual out of school. He has brought Spooky Poo videos which the whole family enjoys. He also teaches Arthur a magic trick and is delighted when David bakes a cake for him.

On Monday, however, Arthur gets an A on a test and all of his friends are angry, because they think Mr. Ratburn is giving him special treatment. This leads to them denying anything he wants or asks. Brain hands Arthur a drawing from Fern: a doodle of Arthur and Mr. Ratburn, with the words "Rat" and Rat Jr."

At home, Arthur tells his parents about what's going on, and Mr. Ratburn overhears because D.W. gave him a juice can to listen their conversation. Arthur suggests that Mr. Ratburn give him an F, to prove he's really not a teacher's pet, but Mr. Ratburn works out something different.

The next day when Arthur's friends tease him, Mr. Ratburn announces that he won't be staying at Arthur's anymore. He tells the kids that he will take turns staying at their homes. At first, everyone is shocked. Then they ask Arthur what it was like. He tells them not to mind if people call them “teacher’s pet”, and that they should like Spooky Poo.

Characters

Major

Minor

Cameo

Trivia

  • DW introduced herself to Mr. Ratburn and he didn't know her, though they've already met.
  • Arthur's phone has only nine buttons instead of twelve.
  • Running Gag: D.W. saying Mr. Ratburn's name incorrectly in different ways.
  • This is Jane Read's 100th appearance in the series.

Cultural references

Gallery

Show/Hide gallery

Screenshots


Show/Hide gallery

Home Video

VHS

DVD

References

  1. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20120413104003/http://ww3.tvo.org/program/157024/arthur



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