♪ 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 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 ♪ ♪ Believe in yourself ♪ ♪ For that's the place to start ♪ ♪ Place to start ♪ ♪ And I say, hey ♪ Hey!

Hey!

♪ What a wonderful kind of day ♪ ♪ If we can 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!

ARTHUR (on TV): Hey, D.W.!

Hey!

Whoa!

(loud thud) (letters shattering) (engine roaring) Don't worry, Bonnie.

I'm taking you to the best doctor I know.

We should be there by nightfall.

Hey, sonny, is your father Neal Lundgren?

Yes.

You must be George.

You got the same antlers.

Could you tell him Dean Lomax is here?

GEORGE: Dad?

Someone named Dean Lomax is here to see you.

DEAN: Lundy!

Dean!

It's been years!

How are you?

Never better.

Wish I could say the same for Bonnie.

She's ailin', Doc.

Bring her inside.

I tried everything, even rubbing her neck with that lemon oil you said she likes.

But she still sounds terrible.

All right.

Let's take a look at the patient.

GEORGE: He kept talking to it, like it was a person.

It was pretty weird.

Any weirder than talking to a wooden giraffe?

GEORGE: That's different.

Wally's a dummy.

You're supposed to talk to him.

This was a guitar.

He had a really cool name, too-- Lean Domax.

Something like that.

Dean Lomax?!

Yeah, that was it.

Do you know him?

Are you kidding?

He's a rock star!

He used to be really big.

Now he's just kind of big.

My mom has all his albums.

My grandma loves him, too.

She's always singing that song, "Looking for Bonnie."

Bonnie!

That was what he called his guitar.

Bonnie is at your house?

George, that guitar is magic.

A long time ago... Dean was walking along a country road when he stopped to rest under a tree.

He was writing the words to "Looking for Bonnie," but he was stuck on the first line.

DEAN: "I was... looking for...

love?"

Nah.

That's been done.

BUSTER: Suddenly, a storm broke out.

Whoo-hoo!

Bring it on!

"And who are thou?

said I to the soft-falling shower."

BUSTER: Dean was dancing in the rain-- he liked to do that sort of thing-- when a bolt of lightning hit the tree he'd been under.

Dean fell back as he saw the most amazing thing.

The lightning left nothing of the tree but a guitar.

Bonnie... (zapping) And with that guitar, Dean finished his song and had his first hit.

The rest is history.

Wow.

I had no idea!

And just think, that guitar is in your house right now.

I wish I were you, George.

Or your dad.

Or Dean Lomax, or some other rock star.

Or even just a guitarist.

Buster!

(doorbell rings) Hi, George.

I'm here for my sleep-over.

Sleep-over?

See you tomorrow, Mom!

What sleep-over?

It's Friday night.

Remember?

We had a plan to... Oh, wait.

Maybe I was supposed to go to Arthur's.

(giggles) Whoo, it's cold!

Well, since you're already here... You asleep?

No.

Me neither.

Let's go see Bonnie.

Buster, I told you.

Dad doesn't like me going into the woodshop without him being there.

But it's a magic guitar.

This might be the only chance in our whole lives to see one.

Well... okay.

But I'll need some backup.

And if we get caught, you're taking the rap, Longears.

What did it look like?

I had to go before they opened the case.

Haven't you seen photos?

No.

It's too precious to be photographed.

WALLY: This place is scary at night.

Look at that sawdust!

I wonder if it was anyone I knew.

(whispering): Wally, keep it down.

We have to be really qui... (cuckooing) That's her!

I know it is.

GEORGE: Whoa... a guitar made from lightning.

Legend has it that one touch can give you magic powers.

(low tone plays) Whoa!

Easy, Bonnie.

What is it?

A little tree, trying to survive on its own out here.

I wish I could help you.

You want me to play a song for it, Bonnie?

All right, then.

(strumming) ♪ If I could, I'd play this tree to grow ♪ ♪ I'd play for all I'm worth ♪ ♪ To give it some good earth ♪ ♪ Yeah, if I could, I'd play this tree to grow... ♪ Hey, Arthur.

What you doing?

Just pushing around this compost.

Mind if we give a little of it to him?

He could sure use it.

♪ If I could, I'd play this tree to grow ♪ ♪ I'd play until it rained ♪ ♪ All over this dusty plain ♪ ♪ Yeah, if I could I'd play this tree to grow... ♪ GEORGE: Hey, Prunella, are you here to make it rain?

Um, no.

I'm just a fortune-teller, not a rainmaker.

GEORGE & ARTHUR: Oh...

But I do have some water, if you're thirsty.

Sure is dry out here.

Give it to him.

He needs it more than we do.

(strumming) ♪ If I could, I'd play this tree to grow ♪ ♪ I'd give it company ♪ ♪ 'Cause that's what it needs to be a tree ♪ ♪ Yeah, if I could, I'd play this tree to grow ♪ ♪ And it might take years to do ♪ ♪ But I know it will come true ♪ ♪ Yeah, together we will make this tree grow... ♪ ALL (in harmony): ♪ Yeah, together we will make this tree grow.

♪ BUSTER: George, are you okay?

I was in this really dusty place and Bonnie made this little plant grow into a huge tree.

See?

I told you she was magic!

Okay, my turn.

(low tone plays) FRANCINE: This is a terrible place for a concert.

No one's here.

Not yet, but once we start playing, this place is going to be packed!

Right, Bonnie?

Okay, everyone, from the top!

(tapping out the beat) One, two... a-one, two, three!

♪ People all over the world, come and hear our song ♪ ♪ Yeah, people all over the world, come and sing along ♪ ♪ Oh, people all over, people all over ♪ ♪ People all over... ♪ (spaceship humming) What's that?

ARTHUR: It's headed right for us!

♪ Aliens from outer space, land, but not me ♪ ♪ Yeah, aliens from outer space... ♪ (Francine and Arthur scream) (gasps) (gasps) (plucks a note) (plucks a note) (plucks twice) (plucks twice) (plucks four times) (Buster strumming) (both playing together) Yee-ha!

(whooping) Yertzel!

Snik blakkoo!

(whining in alien language) Snik!

Let me guess: That's your mom, and you're late for dinner?

Buster?

Bus...ter?

Wow.

That Yertzel played a mean thingamajig.

(yawns deeply) It's almost morning.

We should get back to my room.

Hey, what about me?

Don't I get to take a spin on the magic guitar?

(doorknob rattling) (gasps) I forgot!

This door locks from the other side!

What do we do?

She's as good as new, Dean.

I had to realign the fret board and put some... What are you two doing in here?

Huh?

Dad!

I can explain everything.

All we wanted to do is see Bonnie, and... You're Dean Lomax!

So they tell me.

If you two wanted to meet my old lady, you were lookin' in the wrong place.

That's Bonnie?

That guitar doesn't look like it was made by lightning.

Don't believe everything you hear, son.

That's just a legend.

I bought it in Chicago in 1963 for 40 bucks.

But... she is magic, right?

(knocking) Bonnie's just wood, metal and nylon.

But music... now, that's a different story!

(plays chord) It can inspire you to do almost anything.

Like get to know a completely different culture.

(Yertzel singing and playing alien guitar) Or make this planet a better place to live.

GEORGE: ♪ Yeah, together we will make this tree grow ♪ ALL: ♪ Yeah, together we will make this tree grow!

♪ So, I guess you could say that music is a type of magic.

♪ I found magic in the music ♪ ♪ Dug deep down to the core ♪ ♪ There I found my Bonnie ♪ ♪ We'll be together evermore.

♪ See you, Lundy.

We're much obliged.

Bye, Dean!

Come again!

Why didn't you introduce me to Bonnie?

She and I have a lot in common.

GEORGE: Like what?

WALLY: We're both in the entertainment business.

She's strings and wood, I'm strings and wood.

We were made for each other!

(bicycle bell dings) And now... ZOE: Dean Lomax played a guitar named Bonnie, but I don't play the guitar, I play a mandolin.

(strumming) It is an instrument like a guitar, except it has double strings.

♪ My home's across the Blue Ridge Mountains ♪ ♪ My home's across the Blue Ridge Mountains.

♪ Sometimes I play with my dad.

♪ My home's across the Blue Ridge Mountains ♪ ♪ And I never expect to see you anymore.

♪ (strumming final chords) Nice.

This is Vick.

He's my mandolin teacher.

Play me one of the songs that you've been working on.

(playing cheerful tune) ZOE: Whatever kind of music you like, learn how to play an instrument, and then when you get really good, you can play the songs that you've always wanted to play.

You got that rolling right along.

(country string band playing) ZOE: We're going to have a bluegrass jam with some of my friends.

We have Julia on the cello, Katherine on the fiddle, Marjo on the Dobro and James on the guitar.

(finishing song) That was good, yeah.

What shall we play?

(all talking at once) "Shady Grove"-- does that sound good?

One, two, ready, go.

♪ Shady Grove, my little love ♪ ♪ Shady Grove, my darlin' ♪ ♪ Shady Grove, my little love ♪ ♪ I'm goin' back to Harlan.

♪ ZOE: Well, music can make you happy, it can make you sad, it can sound pretty.

It just sounds good.

♪ I'm goin' back to Harlan.

♪ (all cheering) KIDS: And now... NARRATOR: The place, Futuropolis.

The year, 2612.

Arthur Read works as a clerk for Federated Mutual Insurance.

(computer voice speaks over desktop machine) Yes, Mr. Bronson.

The insurance claims will be ready in just a few more minutes.

The Signal!

Trouble is afoot in Futuropolis!

NARRATOR: But when Futuropolis is threatened by danger, darkness or disaster, he becomes... he becomes... (narrator clears his throat loudly) He becomes... Supernova!

(heroic theme music plays) D.W.: And don't forget his trusty sidekick, Starchild.

Starchild, leave me alone.

I'm doing this by myself.

But Supernova, I'm helping.

ARTHUR: That's Sirius, the superdog.

(barks) Ever wonder how Supernova came into existence?

Well, stay tuned for "The Secret Origin of Supernova"!

(crowd cheers) Thank you, Dark Bunny.

You've saved our city once again.

How can we ever thank you?

Dark Bunny?

Dark Bunny?

Where did he go?

ANNOUNCER: Hey, kids, the All-Star Comic Convention is coming to your town.

Go to our Web site for more information.

Let's check it out.

Ouch!

(growling) Defeating bad guys sure gives me a workout!

That's why I get an energy boost from New DB Mitamax Energy Drink!

(gulping) Aaaahhh!

Guaranteed to restore all the energy you lose leaping across the skyscrapers of Rabbitopolis.

Cool!

DAD: Arthur, you haven't done your chores!

Coming!

(heroic music playing) (gulping) (takes a deep breath) (exhales strongly) DAD: Arthur!

How can we ever thank you for your heroic service to the family?

Arthur?

Arthur?

(Pal barks) BUSTER: The Comics Convention is coming to Elwood City next week.

Come on!

We need to get costumes.

BUSTER: One of us should be Dark Bunny and the other should be Bionic Bunny.

ARTHUR: I'll be Dark Bunny.

(heroic music playing) In case I need a little energy boost.

BUSTER: So I'm going as Bionic Bunny, and Arthur's going to be Dark Bunny.

I even got a new DB Mitamax Energy Drink.

I'm saving it for later, in case I need a boost of energy.

You know, this so-called energy drink is just junk food.

What?

Look at the ingredients.

It's just water, sugar and food coloring.

But Dark Bunny drinks it.

He wouldn't say something's good for you if it's not.

Arthur, he's a character on a TV show.

The people who created him just want to sell you things.

I know, but he lives by a self-imposed code of honor.

Sorry, Arthur.

The facts don't lie.

I don't even want this anymore.

Selling junk food!

What kind of self-imposed code of honor is that?

DARK BUNNY: Commence, gentlemen.

MALE VOICE: Ever since we introduced our new line of so-called "healthy" food-related products, profits have skyrocketed.

So has production.

So has our stock price.

Excellent!

More money for me.

That's the Dark Bunny signal!

Don't you need to go?

In the middle of a board meeting?

I'm subcontracting all crime-fighting operations overseas, so I'll be free to make more money.

Excellent-- more money for us.

That sounds good!

Brilliant, D.B.

I should have known, Pal.

I should have known.

(whistle blows) No New DB Mitamax Energy Drink today, Arthur?

I'm done with Dark Bunny.

But what about the convention?

We were going to go together, in costume.

I'm still going.

There's got to be some other superhero to dress up as.

What about the ones I invented?

Like Captain Pomodoro or Cat Saver?

Thanks, but I think I'd like to find one of my own.

I know just the place to look.

Hey there, Buster.

Hey, Freddie K. Can my friend Arthur and I look through the big book?

You sure you can handle it?

Oh, yeah.

He's a really big comic book fan.

"Bradwell's Giant Encyclopedia of Superheroes, Sidekicks, Rogues and Villains."

BUSTER: How about The Putty Person?

Too stretchy.

BUSTER: Dr. Night?

Too creepy.

BUSTER: Queen Sapphirella?

I can't dress up as a girl!

That's sort of narrow-minded, don't you think?

Hey, how about Manacle?

I don't understand why it's so hard to find a simple thing like almond extract in this place.

Manacle cereal!

Arthur, this stuff is loaded with sugar.

It's like candy.

ARTHUR: Hey, Doodle Dog!

I used to love those old cartoons.

What ever happened to them?

(theme music playing) Allow me, ma'am.

Remember, boys and girls, respect your elders, and never cross the street except in the crosswalk.

ARTHUR: Doodle Dog would never try to sell kids stuff.

(barks) FRANCINE: Arthur?

Is that a Doodle Dog water bottle?

Yeah.

What's wrong?

Come with me.

These are kindergarteners, okay?

Excuse me, what do you think about Doodle Dog?

Doodle Dog?

Yech!

That's for little kids.

(sighs) There goes the last of my allowance.

ARTHUR: No.

No... no... Buster, I'm never going to find a superhero.

Hey, Freddy K. Do you have a favorite hero?

Well, if I had to pick just one, Jack Kirby.

Who's that?

He created a bunch of great characters in the 1940s, '50s and '60s.

But he's not a superhero, right?

I mean, Jack Kirby doesn't have special powers.

Being able to think up all these characters is kind of like a special power.

I can't dress up as Jack Kirby for the convention.

Thanks, Freddy K., but it's hopeless.

So, who are you going to dress up as?

I don't think I'm going to go.

Sorry, Buster, you'll just have to go without me.

(people screaming) After I destroy Futuropolis, the entire city will be MINE!

Halt right there, Escargota!

Now clean up that mess you've made.

Hah!

Make me!

I will.

I just need a gulp of my New DB Mitamax Energy Drink.

This is just sugared water with some food coloring.

You don't scare me.

SUPERNOVA: Maybe not.

But I will!

I'm Supernova!

And I'm his sidekick, Starchild, and this is his superdog, Sirius!

(barks) Starchild, I told you I don't need your help.

You never let me help.

I won't get in the way...

I promise.

Hey, leave her alone!

Aah!

I can't see!

D.W.: You'll never escape from my super power blankie!

Thank you, Supernova.

You've saved Futuropolis.

Remember, always check the ingredients on beverages.

They may not be as healthy as advertised.

Where... where did he go?

I'll make my own hero, like Jack Kirby.

Who am I kidding?

This is just plain... D.W.: Cool!

Wow!

What a great costume!

Can I be your sidekick?

You really think it's cool?

Yeah!

Of course, you're going to need some face paint.

And that logo needs a little work.

We've got to get to that convention.

ARTHUR: D.W., I wonder if this was a bad idea.

What are you supposed to be, Toilet Tamer?

(laughing) I'm a hero called Supernova.

I've made him up.

You made up your own hero?

Hey, Muffy!

Francine!

Arthur made up his own hero!

No, I...

It's amazing!

MUFFY: Yeah!

Great character!

Guys, you got to come see the vintage Dark Bunny comics I just got in.

I kind of swore off Dark Bunny after his energy drink turned out to be full of sugar.

But I still like the comics, and I guess I don't have to buy everything with a Dark Bunny logo.

And that's the origin of Supernova and his sidekick, Starchild!

BUSTER: Hi, everyone.

It's me, Buster.

If you like all the traditions we have in Elwood City, you'll love what I've seen on my travels with my dad.

There are all sorts of cool things other kids are doing with their families and friends to celebrate their way of life.

I've filmed amazing things with my video camera, and I'm sending it all back to my friends on my very own video postcards.

They're Postcards From Buster.

ch more Arthur and play games with all of the Elwood City friends, visit pbskidsgo.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 ♪ What a wonderful kind of day ♪ ♪ Hey!

♪ ♪ What a wonderful kind of day ♪ ♪ Hey!

♪