Well everyone, I'm back again! And I'm back, this time with the highly anticipated Scene 3 of Act 1 of my brand-new musical story. In this scene of the musical, Arnold goes over to Gerald's house after the last day of school FINALLY ends. Then, Arnold and Gerald both come up with an idea to win the "Helpers for Humanity"-hosted contest to get the ultimate rand prize...a class trip to San Lorenzo. As for what that idea is, you're just going to have to read and find out on your own once you read this scene. And all I can say, is that it's a great idea! Well, what on Earth are we sitting around and waiting for? Let's all begin Scene 3 of Act 1 of my brand-new musical story!

Narrator (enters stage left): About 6 hours later, it was finally 3:30pm. That meant that school was out for the day and that summer vacation had official begun. (exits stage left)

(The school dismissal bell rings in the background. The front doors of the "P.S. 118" school slam open and all of the students and faculty members rush out of the school, down the steps, and out of view to the right...)

All students: School is out for the summer!

Harold: I have a summer of stuff to eat! (exits stage left)

Helga: So long, suckers! Hahaha! (exits stage right)

Pheobe: Ah, time to go home an read. (exits stage left)

Sid and Stinky: Basketball shooting time! (exits stage right)

Peapod Kid: I'm coming along! (exits stage left)

Curly: Me too! (exits stage right)

Chocolate Boy (shoves chocolate bar into his mouth): Me three! (exits stage left)

Rhonda: Time for makeup tutorials! (exits stage right)

Iggy: Time for the "Godzilla" movie marathon on TV! (exits stage left)

Arnold (exits the building): Well, I better get to work on the contest submission tape...(exits stage right)

Gerald: Well, I better get home now. Mom might be making those cookies I love so much! (exits stage left)

(The set changes to the inside of Gerald's living room, complete with a coffee table, sofa, television set, shaggy rug, and wood-paneling walls. Gerald is seen sitting on the left side of the sofa, reading a comic book. On the coffee table in front of him is a plate of chocolate chip cookies and a glass of milk...)

Narrator (enters stage right): Arnold really wanted to win the "Helpers for Humanities" contest, but he knew that he couldn't do it alone. So, he knew the ONE person that could help him out the whole way...(turns page) None other than his best friend, Gerald Johanssen. (exits stage right)

(Arnold knocking on the front door to Gerald's house can be heard from the left...)

Gerald (looks over to the left): It's open! Come on in!

Arnold (enters stage left): Hi Gerald!

Gerald (stands up): Oh, hey Arnold! I'm so glad you came. My mom made her famous chocolate chip cookies for an after-school snack again. (puts comic book down onto coffee table and grabs plate of cookies) Here, have one.

Arnold (shrugs): Sure. Why not? (grabs one and takes a bite) Hmmm...I like the taste. Thanks Gerald. (sits down on the right side of the sofa)

Gerald (puts plate of cookies down onto coffee table): No problem, Arnold. That's what friends are for. Go ahead and help yourself to as many cookies as you want.

Arnold (gives Gerald a high-five): Thanks buddy.

Gerald: Once again, no problem. (gives Arnold a pat on the shoulder) So, what brings you over to my house?

Arnold: Well, I really want to win that "Helpers for Humanities" contest. If I get to go to San Lorenzo, I'll be able to FINALLY see my parents.

Gerald: Good thing you came over to meet me after school. We have to really make this video beat the other competitors' submissions.

Arnold: Okay, we'll totally do what we can to make the best video ever!

Gerald: We'll win this thing, go to San Lorenzo, and find your lost parents.

Arnold (scratches head while thinking): Yeah, but the prize isn't a free trip for me to go looking for them...(grabs another cookie from plate)

Gerald: True, but how can you not try to find your lost parents, especially since you've got your best friend to help? (points to himself)

Arnold (laughs): Okay, let's win this contest! (takes a bite of second cookie)

Gerald: And then, we'll go and get you some answers. It'll be our secret.

(Arnold and Gerald fist bump and do their thumbs-up handshake...)

Gerald: Now, we just got to do something humanitarian.

Arnold: Only one thing left to decide... (takes another bite of cookie)

Gerald: What is it, Arnold?

Arnold: What CAN we do that's humanitarian?

Gerald: Why are you asking ME that, Arnold? You're the kid that saved the boarding house's neighborhood, helped Chocolate Boy free himself from his obsession with chocolate and taught him moderation, helped Sid overcome his germ phobia, saved that sea turtle from the aquarium, helped my little sister find her plush doll, and a lot more. All of that stuff you did wasn't just being a helping hand, but its also being a...

Arnold: Humanitarian?

Gerald: Bingo! You got it, Arnold!

(Uplifting music beings to play in the background. The third song of the musical begins...)

Gerald (stands up) (singing): Arnold, you've helped others,

And you've never given up.

You're a helping hand...

Yes, a helping hand!

When a man or women,

Need your help,

You don't stand by...

Or walk away...

You help them out!

That's right!

You've helped so many,

Get through tough days!

No one else in Hillwood,

Is as nice as you!

Arnold (singing): You're right!

Gerald, you're right!

I'm a helping hand!

I've helped so many,

That I can never...

Cooooooooount!

That's right,

I can't count them all!

I've helped students in our class,

And adults in the city!

This one task,

Can't be any different!

Gerald (singing): Now you're getting it! (stands up)

Arnold, you're a helper,

And that's what you were,

Born to be!

That's right,

It's what you were born to be!

Arnond (singing): Gerald, you're right,

I' am a helping hand,

And that's all I've been,

In the city of Hillwood!

I love helping people,

And that'll never change!

That's right!

I'll never stop helping people,

Until the day I grow up,

And move away!

Oh, yeah!

Gerald (singing): We can both figure out,

What to do to,

In order to go and,

Win that trip!

Once we win that trip,

We'll go and find,

You're mom and dad!

Arnold and Gerald (singing): We must find a way,

To help someone,

And win that trip,

To San Lorenzo!

Once we win,

We will find,

Those long lost parents!

Oh yes, they shall be found!

Gerald (singing): Arnold, my friend...

We'll find a way...

Arnold (singing): To help someone,

Win that contest...

Gerald (singing): And then...we will...

Arnold (singing): Find my mom and dad...

Gerald (singing): And then your family...

Will finally be...

Arnold and Gerald (singing): Together agaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaain!

(The music stops playing in the background as the third song of the musical ends. The entire audience cheers and claps loudly. As the cheering and clapping dies down, Monkeyman suddenly enters stage left and walks across the stage, walking past the living room set. He is holding a fake flower, a rusty watering can, a lump of plastic dirt, and a tiny cloth...)

Arnold (looks over at Monkeyman): Hey Gerald, look over there. (points to Monkeyman)

Gerald (looks over as well): What? What is it? (looks confused)

Arnold: There, out the window! It's Monkeyman!

Gerald (eyes widen): Ah, I see him! I wonder what he's doing...

Monkeyman: Now, where to plant this...(walks toward center of stage and then stops) Ah, here's a nice little spot. (gets down on his knees) Now, to plant this little buddy...(places cloth and fake lump of dirt onto floor) There we go...(sticks fake flower into the fake dirt lump) Now, to water it...(pours small amount of water onto fake flower) Ah, there we go. (gets up) Well, at least this flower has a home...even thought I don't. Man, I wish I can be that flower's shoes right now. (sighs, stands up, and exits stage right)

Arnold (eyes widen): I know! Let's build a habitat for Monkeyman, right there on the river!

Gerald: You're a bold kid, Arnold.

Arnold: I sure am!

Gerald: Well, what are we waiting for?! Let's go and get some supplies! (grabs several cookies and places them into his pockets) There, now that I have a snack for us to eat later, let's go!

(Arnold and Gerald exit stage left, and a door shutting sound effect is heard. The entire set changes to a set that changes to back alleyway next to a few piles of trash, and the back area of the riverbank. As this set comes into view, the flower disappears below the stage via lift and a trapdoor closes...)

Well, this is the end of Scene 3 of Act 1 of this brand-new musical. It looks like Arnold and Gerald both found a way to win that contest and get that prize of a trip to San Lorenzo. The song in this chapter was based on the song "BFF" from the "SpongeBob SquarePants" musical on Broadway. Even though that's the case for this song, I still hoped you all enjoyed the song. Oh, and the song in Scene 2 was based on the song "Tomorrow Is" from the "SpongeBob SquarePants" musical on Broadway. I hope you all liked that one as well. Well, we better move on now. In Scene 4, another musical number will take place and Arnold and Gerald will be seen in a montage/musical number building Monkeyman a habitat to live in. Well, what are we all waiting for? Let's all move on to Scene 4 of Act 1 of this brand-new musical story of mine!