It's morning at the Read household and Jane Read is busy. She takes a pitcher out of the refrigerator and heads over to the sink, turning off some hot water that was running for dishes. She accidentally gets some on her shirtsleeve Ow.
She takes a kettle off the stove, then coughs and clutches her throat.
Jane said Oh, my throat.
Arthur entering the room)
Arthur said Mom! Where's my stripey shirt?!
Jane said Your what?
Arthur: (walking by Kate Read, who is smearing baby food on her head)
Arthur said My shirt. The green and white stripes. The one I always play softball in. It's not in my drawer.
Mrs. Read: (emptying the kettle)
Jane said Uh, check the dryer.
Kate has spilled her food and is crying. Arthur checks the dryer, but...
Arthur said It's not in the dryer! Mom"
Mrs. Read: (cleaning up the spilled food, as Pal looks on hungrily)
Jane said Check the washer!
Arthur said It's all wet! (heading back to the kitchen) What am I going to wear to the softball game?
Mrs. Read: (as the phone rings, and Pal sniffs her cloth hopefully)
Jane said Sorry, Arthur. I guess I forgot to put it in the dryer. (picks up the phone) Hello?! ... Pal?!
Pal has picked up her cloth. Kate giggles at the sight. Mrs. Read starts playing tug-of-war with Pal for the cloth.
Jane said Hi, Mrs. Tibble! (Pal wins the tug-of-war.) Huh?! Oh, I completely forgot!
Arthur said Can I wear one of Dad's shirts? The one he got for Parents Day?
Mrs. Read: (grabbing the pitcher)
Jane said Uh, sure.
Arthur raising his fists in triumph and exiting) Yeah!
Jane said Tell D.W. I'll be there in five minutes. Bye!
She hangs up and coughs again. Looking at her watch, she sighs, and pours the cup of coffee she has just poured herself into the dishwater.
Buster Baxter: "Is There a Doctor in the House?" Title Card:Family Photo As the camera flashes, Baby Kate wails in alarm.
The Read family has gathered for dinner. Everyone is present, including Pal, once again hovering around the table. Arthur is sharing an anecdote from his day.
Arthur said Then I hit the ball over the fence. I've never ever done that. That's how I know your shirt is lucky.
David said You were wearing my Parents Day shirt?
Arthur said I thought my stripey shirt was lucky.
David said Why were you wearing my Parents Day shirt? I hope you're gonna wash it.
The camera shows Mrs. Read, who is not looking well at all. She uses her fork to fiddle with one of her peas. Arthur and Mr. Read continue their conversation.
Arthur said Your shirt is way lucky.
David said It's a nice shirt, Arthur. It's pima cotton.
Michael said dad you know how Arthur is once he see a shirt he like "
D.W. said Timmy and Tommy have paper bag puppet friends and they said they're only $19.95. You can color them. They're educational. Can I have one, please?
Baby Kate holds out some of her food for Pal, who yaps and leaps.
D.W. said Can I please? Please? Please?
Mrs. Read imagines the members of her family as funny-dressed face-painted clowns. Mr. Read is playing a saxophone.
D.W. said Please? Please?
Mrs. Read covers her ears.
Jane exasperated) Can't we just have a little peace and quiet for once?!
Even Pal looks shocked. He whimpers and runs out of the room.
Jane moans) Oh, I'm sorry. I don't know what's wrong. I just haven't been feeling myself all day. She coughs.
The scene changes to her in bed, with a thermometer in her mouth. David removes it.
David said Yup, you've got a fever. Congratulations, Mrs. Read, you've earned yourself a couple of days of bed-rest.
Arthur, D.W. Michel who is holding Baby Kate stand in the door, looking concerned.
Jane said sniffles) I'm sure I'll be fine by the morning. I know you're catering that tea tomorrow.
David said You just concentrate on getting better. He walks away and joins the others.
Arthur said Yeah, Mom, don't worry. We'll take care of everything.
Michael said don't Worry Mom Dad will make sure Arthur take his Pill this time right?
D.W. waves and Mr. Read turns off the light. Jane yawns and settles down to sleep.
Down Stairs
in the dan 8'59'pm
Michael said Mom must have caught that cold from me Remember Dad I had it but she Kept Arthur away from our room for a few days' at least
Davide said that is right Michel Arthur did Sleep Down stairs" a few night ago.
Arthur said it was fun i had the tv to myself for awhile dad can i sleep downstairs again please"
David said no Arthur you can't alright time for your pill then Bedtime
Night turns to day and Jane emerges from her room, wearing a white robe. She coughs and observes the goings-on in her household. David is cutting up a sandwich. He is wearing a vest and a bowtie. D.W. has a paper bag puppet she made.
D.W. said I call this one "Baginnini." He sings, la la la, de doo la de...
Baby Kate cries and Mr. Read shushes her.
David said Hey, look who's up. How'd you sleep? Are you feeling better?
Baby Kate knocks over a bowl of her food again. Jane winces.
Arthur said Mom, do you want a maple doughnut?
D.W. said Look what I made! Isn't is good? Look.
Mrs. Read looks around at the sink piled with dirty dishes & cookware and the other general chaos.
Jane (sighs) No. She walks away.
David said Don't worry. As soon as I get back from catering the tea, I'm gonna clean this house. Come on, Kate, time for your nap.
He leaves the room.
Upstairs
Jane said Davied Donuts this late in the afternoon"
Davide said I know Dear but the Kids will be fine don't worry I am sure Michel &Arthur can look after things" for awhile" they did Fine Babysitting that one time
Jane said okay just leven the door open
Davied said okay Jane"
Meanwhile in the Kitchen"
D.W. addresses Arthur, who is eating cake.
D.W. said Arthur, I'm worried about Dad.
Arthur said (turning to her) Why? He's not sick.
D.W. said Yeah, but he can't clean the whole house by himself. It takes Mom almost all day to clean the house and look. It's already that time.
She surveys the mess. The clock flickers over from 3:29 to 3:30.
D.W. said What if Mom is sick for a couple of days? The house will just keep getting dirtier.
Pal licks at the bowl on the ground. It gleams. It's clean, at least, in a way.
D.W. said There'll be no clean dishes. The dust bunnies will be hopping around everywhere. We'll be living in a "pigstew!"
Michael said It's pigsty, D.W. But you're right. He could use some help. how hard can it be
David said I'm leaving! I'll be back in a few hours. Stay out of trouble. Michel Arthur you both are in Changer" alright He leaves.
Michael said " Arthur will do the Dan I will clean the Kitchen and D.W. the Laundry" break
The scene changes to show D.W. removing some clothes from the washer.
D.W. said Wait. Mom always folds laundry first.
She starts carefully folding the laundry.
Upstairs, the television is playing a soap opera. Arthur sits on couch pushing a vacuum cleaner back and forth.
Rabbit-man: I have something to confess to you. I'm not Sheldon.
Rabbit-woman: You're not? Then who are you?
Not Sheldon: I'm Shelby, Sheldon's twin. I should have told you sooner, Karen.
Rabbit-woman: I'm not Karen. I'm Kara. Karen's my undercover name.
Shelby: Undercover?
Arthur is zoning out, engrossed in the soap opera, and accidentally vacuums some paper clips in the process.
Kara: Yes. I'm with the police. I'm supposed to arrest you, but I can't. I love you, Sheldon.
Still out of it, Arthur vacuums car keys and a sock. The vacuum cleaner starts smoking.
Shelby: I'm Shelby, Karen.
Kara: Kara. Call me Kara.
Arthur comes to his senses, shuts it off and meets D.W., who is just arriving upstairs.
Arthur said All done with the vacuuming. How's the laundry going?
D.W. said Great.
The scene shows that things are perhaps not quite so great. Several articles of clothing have been strewn behind D.W. on the basement stairs. Pal grabs one of Mr. Read's shirts and starts growling and tugging on it.
In the bathroom, D.W. repeatedly tries to hang up a pair of Mr. Read's pajamas and fails. Outside, Pal digs in the sandbox, covering Mr. Read's shirt.
D.W.: (still trying to hang up the robe) Stay! ... Hmph!
Pal buries the shirt. D.W. cuts a hole in the back of the pajamas so that she can hang them.
Michael said hey Arthur how did you Do in the Dan"
Arthur said fine Michel
Michael said good can you load the dishwasher why i take the trash out thank Arthur"
Arthur loads the dishwasher with dishes that have been in no way pre-rinsed. He then hears Baby Kate crying. He turns on the dishwasher and heads upstairs to join D.W.
Arthur said What's wrong with Kate?
D.W. said I don't know. I was just making Daddy's pajamas stay on the hook in the bathroom and she started crying.
Arthur has a suspicion. He sniffs. Uh-oh.
D.W. said That's your job.
Arthur said Why's it my job? You've seen Mom change her just as many times as I have.
D.W. said But you're the second older.
Arthur said So? You're closer to Kate's age. You probably remember how it's done.
Baby Kate kicks her legs and wails.
D.W. said yes but you Charger Kate before remember" but , we'll shoot for it. She holds out her fist for a game of rock-paper-scissors.
Arthur and D.W.: Rock, paper, scissors, shoot!
Both of them land on scissors.
Arthur and D.W.: Rock, paper, scissors...
This continues for at least fifteen minutes according to an alarm clock, until...
Arthur and D.W.: Rock, paper, scissors, shoot!
Arthur said raising his hands in victory) Paper beats rock! I win again!
D.W. said Come on! Best of 35!
Arthur said Hey, D.W., look. (Baby Kate is asleep.)
D.W. said We can't change her now. It'll wake her up.
Arthur said Okay.
They creep out of the room.
Back downstairs, they watch The Bionic Bunny Show together while eating ice-cream.
D.W. said You know, doing all those chores wasn't so bad.
Arthur said Yeah. I don't know why Mom and Dad are always complaining that they're so busy.
Michel said It only took us a few hours. to get everything done"
D.W. said I can't wait to see Daddy's face when he sees all the work we did.
Mr. Read is in fact arriving home as they speak. He observes his shirt in the sandbox. Inside...
David said Why was my shirt buried in the yard?
D.W. said Oh. That's where it was. Arthur and Michael 's crazy dog must have stolen it. I couldn't find it when I was putting your clothes away.
Davied said You were putting my clothes away?
Arthur said happily) Uh-huh. We did all the housework for you.
Michael said D.W. did the laundry, Arthur did the dishes, and then I...
Davied said Um... is something burning?
Arthur said Oh, that's just the vacuum cleaner. Something happened to it when I was vacuuming the den.
Mr. Read has opened the vacuum cleaner and works on it with a screwdriver.
David said Arthur You have to pick up the big pieces by hand before you vacuum. (extracts a chain of paper clips, sighs) Oh. I'll fix it in the morning.
He grabs a cup from the dishwasher and fills it with water, but it's filthy.
David said Ugh! Did you scrape the dishes and close the little detergent door in the dishwasher?
Arthur said Um, I'm not sure.
Michael said oh great I can't leave Arthur alone for a second
Baby Kate wails.
Upstairs, she makes pleasant baby babble as David changes her diaper.
Arthur said We were gonna change her, but then she fell asleep.
David said disposing of the dirty diaper) That's okay. It was nice of you three to try to help. (coughs) I don't feel so great. I think I'll get into my pajamas and hit the hay. (He grabs Kate and moves her to her crib.)
D.W. said What about dinner?
David said There are leftover finger sandwiches in the fridge. (He leaves the room, sneezing.) and Michel make sure Arthur take his Pill"
Michael said sure Dad" Mom already fix it around 5;pm"
Arthur said I guess we didn't do as good a job as we thought.
D.W. said You mean you didn't. Daddy didn't say anything about the laundry.
Arthur looks annoyed, but then...
David off scene Who cut a hole in my pajamas?!
D.W. looks caught out.
The phone rings, Arthur grabs it. " Hello?"
" Here´s Buster, do you have time? Got a new videogame " Zombie-pigeons from the Uranus invading earth" it´s fantastic!"
Arthur sighs. " Sorry, Buster, mom and dad are sick, Michael, me and D.W. look over the house, not sure how long it takes."
Buster sounds sad. " Okay, then another time, bye!"
" Bye Buster."
9'15 pm
Keesha said Yeah! This is Keesha still reporting to you live for FNN. We are now back in Ralphie's room. So Ralphie, what do you have to say about today's amazing adventure?
Ralphie said Well, I'm sorry that my body made such a mess of it.
Carlo said Wait a minute! Do you really think your body's been working against you?
Ralphie said Sure and against you too. You almost didn't get in. Remember?
Wanda said Only because your body's built to keep out things like a bunch of germs or a bus full of kids.
Ralphie said And my throat is so sore I can barely talk.
Phoebes said Only because your body's sending extra blood there to help fight the infection.
Ralphie said Okay, but what about when you almost got gobbled up by my white blood cells?
Arnold said Only because your body thought we were bacteria.
Wanda said Your body was only trying to protect you.
Ralphie said I guess you're right. My body was just trying to get rid of germs, like you.
(Everyone laughs)
Ms. frizzle said Come along class.
Ralphie said Good old body. (Yawns): So that's the inside story isn't it, Ms. Frizzle.
Ms. frizzle said That's the inside story, Ralphie. Pretty amazing, don't you think? Well, we may have won the battle, class, but he's still fighting the war. (Leaves the house)
Wanda said Hey guys, how's this for a concept? Inside Ralphie the series, week 1, he gets a Charlie Horse. Week 2, Tennis Elbow. Week 3, the final episode, Athlete's Foot. (Everyone laughs)
Michael said Arthur wake up it time for your Pill
Arthur hmm we must have fall asleep during one of the new tv show""
Michael said yes Come on Before Mom come down"
Arthur yawed Michael you get ready for Bed i can take it myself"
Michael said oh no not after what Happend Last time i m keep an eye on you as he turn on the Kitchen Light
Arthur said okay Michael as he took the pill with a glass of water. then happy good night.
Michael said good come on time for bed'
It is now late at night and it is most definitely a dark and stormy one. Rain is pouring and lightning is flashing. as Michel slep thought the storm night Arthur is tossing in bed when he sees a big horned shadow on the wall as lightning flashes. He screams out, but the shadow is actually from D.W.'s toy Mary Moo-Cow, as she has just entered the room.
D.W. said I'm scared. (more thunder crashes) Can I get in with you? I don't wanna wake Mom and Dad.
Arthur said Okay. (shakes his head) But not with the cow.
D.W. said Mary's scared too.
Arthur sighs, but he lifts up his cover so that D.W. can get up on the bed with him. She cuddles in.
Some time later the storm has stopped, but D.W. is still concerned...
D.W. said Arthur, what if Mom and Dad aren't better by tomorrow?
Arthur said You heard what Mom said. Grandma Thora is coming over. She'll help with the housework.
D.W. said getting up) But what if they don't get better for a long time? (Arthur yawns.) Grandma can't come every day. She's got bingo on Friday, then her swim aerobics class and...
Arthur said Go to sleep, D.W. no pushing this time alright
She does. Arthur does too and the scene transitions to a fantasy sequence.
Arthur enters the Read household from the pouring rain wearing a suit.
Arthur said Hi, D.W.! I'm home!
D.W. said I'm at the computer! How was the wedding?
Arthur said I was fired again.
D.W. pounds her fists on the keyboard. The house is a mess.
Arthur said Boy, the catering business is tough when you only know how to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
D.W. said Hey, you got the easy job! You think it's easy being an accountant when you can't count past ten?
She holds up a paper showing the equation 6 + 6. Below it, 5 and 3 are crossed out, but amazingly, she did get the correct answer: 12.
Arthur said Are Mom and Dad feeling any better today?
They hear sounds of heavy coughing from upstairs.
D.W. said Does that answer your question? Oh, by the way, I sent Kate to the orphanage.
the camera focuses on his face as lightning flashes and thunder crashes)
Arthur said What?!
D.W. said We just couldn't take care of her, Arthur. She deserves to be in a place that can change her diapers.
Arthur said That's true. Besides, it's one less mouth Michel had to feed. But I sure will miss her.
D.W. voice breaking) Me too. If only we had paid attention to all the work Mom and Dad do. Maybe we could have run the house better.
Arthur said I know! We're terrible parents!
They both sob dramatically.
The dream sequence ends. They both wake up.
Arthur Said I had the weirdest nightmare.
D.W. said Me too.
Michael said what were you dreaming about Mom come in twice during the night .
They hear Kate wailing.
Arthur and D.W. said Kate!
They head into her and D.W. room.
D.W. said Should we get Mom and Dad?
Arthur said I don't know. If they don't get enough sleep, they might not get better, and...
D.W. said I'll get the clothespins! Clothespins on their noses, they change her diaper together.
Arthur said This isn't so bad.
Michael throw the Diapers away
8''15 am in the Kitchen D.W. is feeding Kate at the kitchen table. Arthur is at the sink.
Arthur said I'm just gonna clean the dishes before breakfast.
Kate is fussy and knocks down her food.
D.W. said I'll get the sponge mop.
Michael sponges it up. and empties the mop water. D.W. cleans Kate up and Arthur washes the dishes. D.W. dries.
Michael pours laundry into the machine and D.W. adds detergent. Later, they carry the laundry basket together. They take out the trash together. D.W. lifts the lid, Arthur puts the trash bag in, and D.W. lowers the lid. They give each other a high-five.
9;15 am They put together a breakfast tray.
Arthur said I'll just bring Mom and Dad their breakfast and then we'll clean the...
D.W. said Why do you get to take it up to them?
Arthur said Because it's too heavy for you.
D.W. said grabbing at it) No it isn't. I can do it!
Arthur said Let go, D.W.!
D.W. said Let go! You're gonna spill it!
Michael said Arthur D.W. stop you are both are making a mess
Arthur said No, you let go!
D.W. said You let go!
Michael said Arthur D.W. stop fight" please. (They stop at hearing Grandma Thora's voice.)
Grandma Thora said Why don't we all take it up to them? But first, let's just see the state of affairs here. Your father said there was a dishwasher full of dirty dishes.
Arthur said Yeah, because I forgot to scrape the plates and close the little detergent door.
Grandma Thora said (opening the dishwasher door) So, where are they?
Arthur said We washed them all by hand this morning.
Grandma Thora said Really? Okay, well, let's just give Kate a fresh diaper.
D.W. said We already did that too.
Grandma said okay Laundry'?
Michael said done with that' hour ago" Me and D.W. both
Grandma Thora looks slightly astonished.
The scene changes to Mr. and Mrs. Read's room, where Mr. and Mrs. Read are enjoying their breakfast in bed and D.W. is sitting on the bed looking pleased.
Grandma Thora said They folded the laundry, they emptied the trash, and the house is spic and span. I don't see why you two felt you needed to call in the reserves. Michael. Arthur and D.W. run a very tight ship.
Arthur, standing next to Grandma Thora, looks happily at her.
Jane said I guess we've trained them well.
David said Yeah. We should get sick more often.
D.W. giggles.
Jane said Michel you sure Arthur took his Pill Last night
Michel said yes Mom i watch him this time no worried'
Davied said thank Michel you three are grow up so fast now
Arthur said it was nothing we couldn't handle
10':19 am
The scene changes to show Michael, Arthur and D.W. returning the tray to the kitchen.
Arthur said Wow. It's not even noon and I'm already wiped out.
D.W. sitting at the table, bags under her eyes)
D.W. Said Me too. Running this house is hard work. At least we only have to deal with two sick people and not...
But Arthur has started sneezing.
D.W. said Oh, no! (facepalms)
Arthur uses a dishcloth to blow his nose,
Thora said kids, i have good news, seems your parents are getting better and better."
Michel said that is Great Grandma
Grandma Thore said Arthur where you Sneeze just now?
Arthur said who me no Grandma it wasn't what make you think that?
Grandma Thore said Arthur your voice is stared to get raspy