Arthur

DOORBELL

Ah, Christmas!

Only three days until the big day.

This is going to be the best ever.

BAND STRIKES UP

# Christmas will be magical

# Just like in a fairy tale

# I want so much snow that I'll use my toes

# To pick up the morning mail

# Dinner will be delicious

# Turkey and candied yams

- # Stuffing a mile high - 17 types of pie

- # Do you want some more? - Yes, ma'am!

# Our tree will shine so brightly

# Our tree will be eight feet tall

# Popcorn strung diagonally

# Candy canes and silver balls... #

Here's a saying worth obeying

Please take out a pad and pencil

Nothing is more of an eyesore

Than the excessive use of tinsel

- What, no tinsel?! - Not in this dream

- I want tinsel! - You can have tinsel.

# When you are as old as me

# Is that a guarantee?

# Christmas will be special

# It'll be magnificent

- # Everyone's going to state I really think you're great!

# When they open up my presents

# Yes, this Christmas, I suspect

# Will be perfect in all respects

# This Christmas will be

# The best...

# Christmas yet. #

- Hmm! - Arthur! What are you doing?! Why are you so calm?!

It's three days till Christmas!

- So? - So?! There's work to be done!

Help me write my wish list to Santa.

"My dearest Santa..." No, no, no. That's too gushy.

What about, "Hiya, Santa..."?

Aw! That's way too friendly!

Come on, Arthur! I need ideas!

I've only had four Christmases! What should I write?!

Ohh! Well, everything will be ALMOST perfect.

DW, come on! We're going to be late for school!

You wrote "Santa Claus", right? Not "Santa Cruz"?

Yes, DW! Mom, can you turn on the radio to see if it's going to snow?

'# ..Always at your feet And it's really, really sweet

'# It's Tina the talking tabby... #'

Don't even think about touching that dial!

'# Just scratch behind her ears And this is what you hear

'# I'm Tina the talking tabby

'# Oh, Tina, Tina, tiny Tina Tina, Tina, tiny Tina

'# Tina, the talking tabby

- '# Oh, Tina, Tina... #' - Mom, change the station!

I'm getting a headache!

- JAZZ MUSIC PLAYS - Mom, that's the toy I really want!

The one I wrote Santa about.

- You put it at the top of the list. Right, Arthur? - Yes, DW!

Santa will get it for me, won't he?

I don't know, honey. We'll have to wait and see.

Francine!

Hi, Francine! One more day until my big party!

Muffy, I told you, I can't...

Oh! I forgot to invite George!

Hmm!

- Hey, Francine, what's wrong? - Muffy!

She thinks I'm coming to her party, even though I told her I can't.

My family's having a Chanukah party.

- We light the last candle on the menorah. - So tell her again.

I've already told her a million times. Watch.

See you there, George!

Muffy, I'm not coming to your party.

Guess what! I got the Swabs! You know - the rock band.

It's going to be so cool.

It's like talking to a wall!

Arthur?

SCHOOL BELL RINGS Hmm!

In Sweden, they have a parade early in the morning on December 13th.

People follow the Queen of Light who wears a crown of candles.

THEY SING IN SWEDISH

My grandfather sent me some fish that's been dried and boiled.

Pass it around.

THEY ALL GROAN

Mmm! Not bad!

At Christmas, my parents and I work at a soup kitchen for the homeless.

This year, I made dessert.

Presenting the Binky Barnes pecan pie!

Any volunteers? ALL: Yeah!

- I believe you have to shell the pecans. - Oh!

I like it!

OK, class, before you leave for vacation there's still homework.

THEY ALL GROAN

I've decided not to assign you any reading.

Instead, write a five-page essay describing your holidays.

- Class dismissed! - THEY ALL GROAN

I knew it was too good to be true!

- I have to go shopping. Want to come? - No, I'm going to bed.

My mother woke me up at six this morning.

She thought it was Christmas.

It's happened every year since my parents got divorced.

On the days before Christmas, my mom gets up really early.

Oh! It's Christmas!

'She cooks pancakes and puts out all the presents.'

- I tell her it's only December 23rd and she goes back to bed. - Weird!

She worries I won't enjoy Christmas because my dad's not with us.

- That's too bad! - Sometimes I wish Christmas wasn't such a big deal.

FANFARE PLAYS

I, Muffy, the princess of Christmas,

invite one and all to my holiday extravaganza!

- Her what?! - My party! It's at five o'clock tomorrow.

Presents for everyone!

Oh, Francine! Why don't you come early and help me set up?

But Muffy, I told you, I can't come!

Grr! Why won't she listen?!

Lutefisk?

- Wow! - Wait till you see the line for the bathrooms.

Let's synchronise our watches. 3.15?

- Check. - Meet you at the candy cane in exactly one hour.

Excuse me!

'It peels, it cores, it shreds, it mashes, it juliennes!

'It's an entire kitchen in itself.

'It's now on sale for only 5.99!'

That's perfect for Dad!

'Scuse me, sir.

- Sorry, we're sold out. - Aw!

Allow me to show you something else.

Yes, sir! Selling like hot cakes.

Uncle Niko's olive depitter.

You just stick an olive in... and out pops the pit!

Um...I don't know.

I'll throw in the olives.

Only one present to go. Hmm, what to get Mom?

Hey! It's that little glass bird I broke last summer.

HE BARKS LIKE A DOG

Help! Help!

Arthur, leave me alone!

Arthur did it!

Mom loved that bird. This'll really surprise her.

HE GASPS

Oh, brother!

Excuse me, young man, may I help you?

Huh? Oh, yeah.

The little glass bird in the window, please.

I assume that will be cash.

Yes, ma'am!

25, 35, 45...

56, 57, 58...59.

There! Nine dollars and 59 cents.

Huh? Oh, yeah, here you go.

Thanks. Happy holidays.

Oh, no, it's 4.13!

Excuse me, sir, how do I get to the giant candy cane?

Which giant candy cane, son?

There's the giant green one

and there's the giant pink one.

The giant red one?

That's Santa's workshop. Go through Toy Town.

'# Oh, Tina, Tina, tiny Tina Tina, Tina, tiny

'# Tina, Tina the talking tabby

'# Oh, Tina, Tina, tiny, Tina, Tina, Tina, tiny... #'

Grrr! That song!

'# Oh, Tina, Tina, tiny Tina, Tina, Tina, tiny

'# Tina, Tina, the talking tabby. #

SONG CONTINUES

'# Tina, Tina the talking Tabby. #'

Did you get everything you needed?

Yep. How about you?

Almost everything.

There was just one thing that was sold out.

DW, you know that Santa can't always get exactly the thing you want.

- Why?! Because I've been bad?! - No, DW, you haven't been bad!

It's just that a lot of children are wishing for the same thing.

Arthur wrote my letter all wrong!

I knew I should have done it myself.

I've got a big surprise!

Uncle Fred's video Christmas card.

Is this thing on? Oh! It is!

Hi, Sis! Hi, David, Arthur, DW, and of course, little Kate!

- It's your Uncle Fred! - DOG BARKS

And Rory! We can't be with you this Christmas cos we're going to...

Hawaii?!

Florida!

Hey! Who turned out the lights?

Rory, no! That's not a dog treat!

THEY LAUGH

- Oh, that Fred! - He's so funny!

Last Christmas he stepped on that tea set Dad got for Mom!

That wasn't so funny. Dinner! It's your favourite, Arthur.

Won't Christmas dinner be boring if we have the same thing tonight?

Dad wants to do something different.

Yes - a dinner they might have eaten in Bethlehem when Jesus was born.

- Did they have pumpkin pie? - No. The pumpkin is a New World vegetable.

But with my History Of Cooking book I can put together a delicious meal.

Roast lamb with turmeric, unleavened bread and pulse -

an ancient Roman dish made from mashed chickpeas and wheat. Mmm!

Daddy! There's sand in my hummus!

And my pulse is cold.

- Hey, Arthur, want my camel? - Ugh!

No, thanks!