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"The Rat Who Came to Dinner"
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
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"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[]

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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[]

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