♪ Every day when you're walking down the street ♪ ♪ Everybody that you meet has an original point of view ♪ (laughing) ♪ And I say hey ♪ Hey!

♪ What a wonderful kind of day ♪ ♪ If we could learn to work and play ♪ ♪ And get along with each other ♪ ♪ You've got to listen to your heart, listen to the beat ♪ ♪ Listen to the rhythm, the rhythm of the street ♪ ♪ Open up your eyes, open up your ears ♪ ♪ Get together and make things better ♪ ♪ By working together ♪ ♪ It's a simple message, and it comes from the heart ♪ ♪ Believe in yourself, for that's the place to start ♪ ♪ And I say hey ♪ Hey!

♪ What a wonderful kind of day ♪ ♪ If we could learn to work and play ♪ ♪ And get along with each other ♪ Hey!

♪ What a wonderful kind of day ♪ Hey!

♪ What a wonderful kind of day ♪ Hey!

Hey, DW!

Hey!

Whoa... SUE ELLEN: Dear Diary.

Last week I received the most amazing package.

It traveled halfway around the world, all the way from Dharamsala, India.

The package was sent to me by my pen pal, Tenzin Wangdu.

He's Tibetan, and even though I've never met him, I think he's really cool!

Inside was a sweater made by his mom of real yak wool.

Yaks are a kind of shaggy cow that only lives in the Himalayas.

It was so soft!

I put it on right away.

It was a little big, but I didn't care.

It was instantly my favorite sweater.

It felt magical, like I could almost feel the snow from the Himalayas around me.

But a lot can change in a week.

Now when I look at that sweater, I don't think of Tenzin or the Himalayas or the yak that the wool came from.

I only think about how mean people can be.

(shivering) Man, is it cold out there!

I know.

My ears are still frozen.

(clanking) What you need is a pair of genuine yak wool earmuffs.

Where would I get those?

From a Tibetan pen pal, if you're lucky enough to have one.

My friend Tenzin just sent me this.

It's the warmest thing I've ever worn.

It's so soft, too.

ARTHUR: Wow, what is that you're wearing?

My new sweater.

And it's made from a yak.

ARTHUR: You mean yaks.

They must have used a couple of them.

It's pretty big on you.

My mom says it'll shrink when we wash it.

Hey, you know what?

It kind of makes you look like a big sheepdog.

(laughing) That's true!

But you still need a tail.

All right, so I look like a sheepdog.

But at least I'm a warm and cozy sheepdog.

(howling) (laughing) Hey, you left your backpack behind.

Bad dog!

(laughing) Good one!

Hey, over here!

Come here, girl, over here!

Who's a good sheep doggie?

You're a good sheep doggie!

Yes, you are.

(chuckling) SUE ELLEN: Okay, okay, you can stop now.

This dog might just get angry and bite you.

Oh, you wouldn't do that.

Sheep dogs have a very gentle nature.

I thought I would never say this, but I actually think you look très chic.

Really?

Uh-huh.

I saw Capri di Vapida wearing something just like that at a fashion show.

Are you sure it was a fashion show and not a dog show?

(laughing) Okay, okay, I'll stop.

I don't know why, it just cracks me up.

Here, why don't you have my... biscuit.

(laughing) (sighs) (gasps) "Happy Sheepdog Appreciation Day"?

(chuckling) Did you do this?

Um, well...

It was just a joke.

Well, I don't think it's funny.

(laughing) That's great!

Look, everyone, it's a picture of Fern as a goat.

No, it isn't.

It's Sue Ellen as a sheepdog.

Really?

That doesn't look a thing like Sue Ellen.

Or a dog.

You didn't even give it a tail.

And that, in short, is how iron ore is smelted.

(bell ringing) MR. RATBURN: Arthur, would you stay behind, please?

ARTHUR: A bully?

Me?

I didn't bully Sue Ellen.

I was surprised too, Arthur.

It doesn't seem like you.

But when you continue to tease someone, even after they've asked you to stop, that's bullying.

But it was just a joke.

Maybe to you.

But imagine if someone made you feel bad for what you wore.

We have no tolerance for that kind of behavior here.

You must treat everyone with respect.

But... Fine.

I promise not to do it again.

I'm glad to hear that.

Arthur, we're not quite finished yet.

ARTHUR: I have to write Sue Ellen a letter apologizing for what I did by tomorrow.

And we have that history test.

I'll probably fail!

Well, don't take it out on the crackers.

It's not their fault.

I think she should be the one apologizing to me.

How do you figure that?

She didn't have to go to Mr. Ratburn.

She could have just told me to stop.

She did tell you to stop.

I was there.

Okay, but I didn't think she meant it.

Come on, she was being over-sensitive, right?

I don't know.

Sue Ellen's never seemed over-sensitive to me.

I'm the over-sensitive one.

No, you're not.

You're just the weird one.

(gasps) You take that back!

Okay, okay, I'm sorry.

See?

Saying you're sorry isn't that hard.

You'll be finished with that letter in no time.

"Dear Sue Ellen, I'm sorry I upset you.

"I didn't mean to.

"It was really just a joke.

"I thought you could take a joke, "but I guess I was wrong.

I've been teased before about wearing glasses..." "...but I never felt I had to tell the teacher about it "and get someone else in trouble.

Maybe you're just overreacting"?

It goes on like that for the whole page.

He isn't sorry at all.

If I hurt someone's feelings, I write from the bottom of my heart and include a gift certificate to Crosswire Motors.

FRANCINE: What are you going to do?

I don't know.

Well, until he gives you a real apology, I'm not speaking to him.

Me too!

Hey, guys.

How about that history test?

Pretty hard, right?

What's going on?

We're not speaking to you.

That's what's going on.

Buster!

You just ruined it.

I did?

Oh!

Why aren't you speaking to me?

I'd tell you, but I'm not speaking.

You just did it again!

(sighs) Come on, Francine, let's sit at a table that doesn't have any bullies at it.

I'm not a bully!

What did I do wrong?

"Your letter to Sue Ellen."

What about it?

It was terrible!

That's why I'm not speaking to you.

Which I'm clearly not very good at.

(gasps) Sue Ellen, wait up!

Look, I'm really sorry, okay?

I never meant to hurt your feelings.

Can we please just forget it and be friends?

Do you still think I overreacted?

Um, well... (sighs) Sorry.

ANNOUNCER: Tu ne in next week when Bi onic Bunny faces Shrubman!

(TV shuts off) (phone ringing) BUSTER: Hello?

Hey, Buster, what are you doing?

(sighs) Buster, I know you're there.

You just said hello.

You've reached the Baxter residence.

Leave your message at the beep.

Bye, Arthur.

Oh, I mean... Oh, forget it!

This is so unfair.

(chuckling) (computer beeping) SUE ELLEN: Now when I look at that sweater, I don't think of Tenzin or the Himalayas or the yak that the wool came from.

I only think about how mean people can be.

Mom!

I have to talk to you about something.

Oh, there you are.

I tried to call you this morning.

I'm really sorry I sent you that picture.

I felt bad as soon as I hit send, but I was just upset because... You thought I overreacted.

I know, you've told me.

(sighs) You going to eat those beans?

Well, I hope you're satisfied, Arthur Read!

Look, I said I was really sorry for sending Sue Ellen that e-mail, but she didn't... What e-mail?

The one I...

Isn't that what you came to yell at me about?

No, we came to yell at you for making Sue Ellen ask to switch classes.

What?

Because of me?

Of course!

She doesn't want to be in a class with a bully.

I have to talk to her.

Where is she?

She was in the hall a few minutes ago.

But haven't you done enough damage already?

Sue Ellen?

Sue Ellen, wait!

She can't be changing classes because of me.

Hey, you left your backpack behind.

Bad dog.

Who's a good sheep doggie?

You're a good sheep doggie!

Yes, you are!

Are you sure it was a fashion show and not a dog show?

It was just a joke.

(gasps) I'm not going to say anything mean, I swear.

Just... please listen to what I have to say?

Well?

You didn't overreact.

I have been a bully.

I just didn't realize how hurt you were.

But now I do.

Please don't switch classes.

You're one of my best friends.

And if you stay in our class, I promise to never treat you like that again.

And I promise to wear this every day for the rest of the year.

Deal?

Deal.

But I think I'll take my sweater back.

It really is the warmest thing I've ever worn.

And soft, right?

Although it does kind of make you look like a big mouse.

(squeaking) And now... My name is Brenda.

This is my second-grade class.

Today, we're working on puppet shows.

These puppets are made out of paint, felt... Styrofoam ball and, um... Our puppet shows are about stepping up to a bully who's being mean.

Our puppet show is called Wonderful Language.

Hey!

Bonjour!

Oy!

Como ye!

Hey, that's cool, we speak four different languages.

Guys, your languages are boring.

That's not nice.

What's so interesting about how you talk?

It's interesting because there are so many different languages in the world.

Yeah, I guess you're right.

(applause) If everybody were the same, it wouldn't be as much fun as having different people.

It's not good to be a bully and just make fun of somebody because they're not like you.

The title of our puppet show is Not Bullying Anyone.

Can I play tag with you?

No, you'll never catch me with such ugly sneakers.

That's just mean!

Thanks for helping me and for standing up to the bully.

I guess I was not being such a good friend.

I'm sorry.

(applause) We should give compliments instead of being a bully to them.

Our play is called Colors of the World.

I like that shade of your skin.

It looks nice.

Thank you!

I like it too.

Mine is a pretty light brown.

I don't like my shade of peach.

It's okay, we're all different in different ways.

(applause) Our script is about puppets that are different shapes and sizes.

Different Shapes and Sizes.

Hey, look, we're all different shapes and sizes!

Yeah, but you're so small, you're like the size of an ant.

No, he's lucky, he can fit into small places that I can't.

I guess that's pretty cool.

I'm sorry, let's be friends.

(applause) And now...

This will do the trick.

Mayonnaise?

You're going to put mayonnaise on my head?

Sure.

It's what your grandma used on me when I was a kid.

Ugh!

That was when I had head lice.

Not a good day.

You ever notice how it's easier to remember bad days than good days?

Here are my top five worst days ever.

Number five.

The day I was fired by my piano teacher for not practicing.

Did you practice?

But I did practice!

Kind of.

A little.

Oh, not really.

Good-bye, Arthur.

You're fired.

(gasps) ARTHUR: Number four.

The time I ripped my pants in school and everyone saw my underwear.

(kids laughing) ARTHUR: Okay, we don't have to see any more of that one.

Number three.

The time Buster left for his trip around the world.

He was gone for a whole year.

BUSTER: I bet I'll never find another tree house that can fly to outer space and go back in time and become invisible like that one.

It'll still be here when you get back.

Yeah.

Good-bye!

Good-bye, Arthur!

ARTHUR: Number Two is actually a whole lot of days put together.

(gasps) You took my snowball!

I know you did!

Where'd you hide it, Snowball Thief?

I want a confession.

Confess!

Confess!

Confess!

But the number one all-time worst day ever was when... (baby crying) Ah!

Hey!

What?

That's not supposed to be on there!

(laughing) Isn't wittle Arthur cute?

I think I may have just found a new worst day.

(birds squawking) (contented sigh) I think this might be one of the best days ever.

BINKY: I'll say!

(contented sigh) It is pretty great.

Although it might not make my list.

We'll have to wait and see.

You have a list?

Yeah.

It's my list of top ten best days ever.

Don't you have one?

No.

I don't have a list, but I do have a best day ever.

Let me guess: when you joined the Tough Customers.

Of course not!

It was after we got my baby sister from China.

(baby crying) She cried a lot.

But there was one thing that could get her to stop: The Monkey Face.

It never failed.

(baby crying) Look.

See, Monkey.

Like this!

Monkey!

BINKY: I could have even had my own show.

ANNOUNCER: Ladies and Gentlemen, Binky, The Human Pacifier!

(crying) (crying stops) BINKY: It was like a super power, and only I had it.

And then she met Arthur.

All of a sudden, the face didn't work anymore, and only he could get her to stop crying.

It was like he had stolen my powers.

Arthur, how could you?

What?

That's ridiculous!

I didn't steal anything.

I'm not finished yet.

Then one night, we were in a Chinese restaurant.

(door opens) BINKY: Uh-oh, the Reads are here.

(babbling) Oh no, she's awake.

Don't cry, please.

I can't take it.

When Arthur's around, it's like I'm invisible.

You'd probably rather have him for a brother.

Hey, what did you do that for?

(babbling) (blows a raspberry) (blows a raspberry) (laughing) Hey, Mei Lin, do it again!

(blows a raspberry) (blows a raspberry) (laughing) I taught her how to do that.

So even though I couldn't always get her to stop crying, I realized I could teach her things.

It was the first time I really felt like a big brother.

Joining the Tough Customers was my second best day ever.

What about you, Arthur?

Me?

Well, um, it would have to be... Hmm, I'm not sure.

I have to think about it.

You go.

Okay.

It actually started out as one of the worst days of my life.

It was when Fern invited me to read at that poetry reading.

I was so nervous!

But as long as I had Wally with me, I felt okay.

Next will be a poem called "The Bowl of Fruit," read by George.

GEORGE: Then the unthinkable happened.

(gasps) (gasps) I didn't know what to do!

There was no way to fix him in time.

It's all the comedy, kid.

It takes a toll.

Just leave me here in the woodworking section.

But I can't read my poem in front of those kids without you!

You're going to have to.

Look at me!

(coughs) Could I have a little furniture polish, please?

Thanks, kid.

Good night, world.

Farewell, adieu, sayonara...

I had worked so hard on that poem, but now I just didn't have the courage to read it.

Then you showed up, Arthur.

We'd all like to get to know him-- uh, you-- better, but how can we if you... he... Wally is always in the way?

But what if you all forget about me when I put him-- I mean me-- away?

I don't know, Arthur.

Just try it, George.

What's the worst that could happen?

GEORGE: So I took your advice.

"An orange, an apple, and a banana.

"This bowl of fruit doesn't come from a can-a.

"It's real, it's fresh, it's good to eat.

The stuff from the can is much too sweet."

Thank you.

(applause) Deep.

I did it.

I really did it!

Yahoo!

From that moment on, I knew I didn't need Wally.

You guys liked me for just being me.

So why do you still carry him around?

Because I'm so much fun!

Hey, why do bees hum?

Because they don't know the words!

Get it?

How about this one?

Why'd the king go to his dentist?

To get his teeth crowned!

Oh, I got a million of 'em!

Hey, know what happened when the dresser... ARTHUR: What is my best day?

Maybe it was that time I pulled the sword out of the stone at the medieval fair.

(cheering) But later Mr. Ratburn gave us a quiz on medieval history and I only got a B-.

Hmm, this is harder than I thought it would be.

Huh?

Didn't you hear us calling you?

Wally has, um, taken a break.

(squeaking) It's your turn.

What's your best day ever?

Oh, that's easy.

It's, um... (coughs) ARTHUR: You go.

(coughs) Throat's itchy.

SUE ELLEN: Okay.

Mine was when you found my diary.

BUSTER: Really?

That's your best day ever?

SUE ELLEN: Uh-huh.

That diary is really important to me.

I've written about almost everything that's happened to me since I came to Elwood City.

Hey, have any of you seen Sue Ellen?

I think I found her diary.

You didn't write about that time I almost ate a bug, did you?

Or when I couldn't stop rhyming?

Or when I kept getting a bloody nose?

You'll never know.

Because Arthur never even opened the diary.

I bet he took a little peek.

I didn't, I swear.

I just thought it was private.

Here you go, Sue Ellen.

It's still private.

From then on, I knew I had friends I could really trust.

But I promise you'll all find out what I wrote when I publish my memoirs.

ALL: Huh?

Okay, no more stalling.

Spit it out.

What's your best day ever?

Well, I've been thinking really hard about it, and the truth is, I just don't... BUSTER: Wait!

Hold that thought!

I just remembered a brand new one-- one that tops all the others.

What is it?

This is going to be good.

Well, I was in my bed one night, and I couldn't get to sleep.

I was counting puffins because sheep never work for me for some reason.

45... 46... 47...

When all of a sudden, this strange light appeared in my window.

It was a giant, glowing donut-shaped object, right there outside my bedroom!

I was afraid, but I felt it was calling to me, so I ran downstairs.

Then I realized it wasn't just shaped like a donut, it was a donut!

And then the Strawberry People came out.

They were a highly developed fruit-based life form who needed a new king, and they had chosen me-- me-- to rule over the planet Fructopia forever and all time!

Buster, are you sure this wasn't a dream?

Oh.

Those don't count?

Well, then I guess I only have one best day.

What is it?

When you and I played checkers.

That's it?

Yeah.

You know, after I came back from my trip around the world.

Oh.

Oh, yeah!

I really missed you.

And I also won.

Well, you're the last one, Arthur.

Let's hear it.

I don't have one.

BINKY: What?

You don't have a best day?

No way!

I've had a lot of really good days, but there just isn't one that stands out from the rest.

I mean, is it so important to have a best one?

Nope.

You'll probably have one someday.

Want to join the Tough Customers?

It's very exciting.

No, thanks.

Hey, you know what's strange?

Arthur was in all of our best days.

That's true.

In fact, without him none of them would have happened.

So even if you don't have your own best day, you have a piece of all of ours.

Hmm, that is pretty cool.

You know what?

I think I just found my best day: today!

Just hanging out with you guys.

It's perfect.

(thunder rumbling) Aw, man!

Anybody bring an umbrella?

Come on, Wally, back in the bag.

Sorry, Arthur.

I guess this kind of ruins your best day.

(thunder rumbling) Nah, it's still great.

Hey!

Who wants to come to my house?

To watch more Arthur and play games with all the Elwood City friends, visit pbskids.org.

You can find Arthur books and lots of other books, too, at your local library.

Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org