S4 - Arthur and the Haunted Tree House

[bunniefuu]

PBS KIDS OPENS
WORLDS OF POSSIBILITIES

FOR ALL CHILDREN

THANKS TO PBS STATIONS
AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

♪ 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 b*at ♪

♪ 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, D.W.!

Hey!

Whoa...

(crash)

(kids chatting excitedly)

(wind blowing)

LADONNA:
And they never found Doc.

Some say he's still out there.

Hiding in the swamps,
living off frogs and leeches,

his skin shriveled
and yellow with an evil smile

plastered on his face.

Like this!

(both scream)

(laughing)

Can we turn
the lantern back on now?

Aw, come on,
it wasn't that scary.

Wait, you don't really have
a cousin named Doc, do you?

Sure, I do!

But he lives in Miami,
not a swamp.

He's a nutritionist.

Um...

What are you supposed
to be again?

Candy Boy.

Candy Boy get angry
when he no get candy!

(growls)

But don't worry.

Candy Boy
is very happy this year.

He b*at last Halloween's
candy quota.

Oh, yeah!

(wind whistles)

Shhh!

Did you
hear something?

LADONNA:
Uh-oh, maybe it was angry
villagers, Frankenstein.

(laughing)

I'm not Franken-stein,
I'm Franken-tist.

That's a combination of
Frankenstein and a dentist.

(eerie whistling)

There it is again!

That's just
the wind.

You sure are jumpy.

You didn't mix
the sour-gummied worms

with the peanut
clusters, did you?

That always makes me jumpy.

No.

So, what's up?

You wouldn't believe me
if I told you.

Yes, I would.

Me too.

If it were me,
I might not believe me.

But you?

Tell us.

It's this tree house.

It's...

It's haunted.

(laughing)

What? No way!

Come on,
this old thing?

I'm serious.

There's a ghost here.

She's angry.

And I think
she's coming for us.

Arthur and the Haunted
Tree House: Part One.

(owl hooting)

LADONNA:
Wait, back up.

What do you mean,
there's a ghost here?

Did you
really see it?

Kind of.

What did
it look like?

Aw, man,
you're so lucky!

I want to see a ghost.

No, you don't.

Anyway, I'm not sure
I want to talk about it.

Oh, come on!

You can't just say
you've seen a ghost

and then not tell us about it.

(sighs)

Okay.

I guess it all started
about a week ago.

I had just told Mom I wanted
to have a Halloween sleepover

in the tree house.

I don't know, Arthur.

I'm not sure it's safe
to sleep up there.

What if someone
rolls over and...

We're going to put a crate up
there to block the opening.

Okay, but how are
you going to get

your sleeping bags
and stuff up there?

Already thought of that, too.

We hooked up a pulley.

It's really cool.

You could come out
and see it later.

Did I hear someone
say sleeping bags?

Are we going camping?

No, sweetie.

Arthur just
wants to have

a Halloween party
at the tree house.

I want to come, too!

You can't, D.W.

It'd be
too scary for you.

Here, looking
for the cereal?

Too scary?

Ha!

The only thing
that scares me are octopodees,

and they're only
at the beach, so...

(screams)

(laughing)

I rest my case.

That was a dirty rotten trick!

Arthur.

Sorry.

I was just trying to prepare her
for Halloween.

So, Mom?

Please?

Can I have
the sleepover?

Well, I have to check
with your father,

but I guess it's okay.

Yes!

I wasn't really scared
by that cereal snake.

I was just acting.

You'll have a much better time
at home anyway.

Your father and I are
going out that night,

but Grandma will be here.

Why don't you invite Bud over?

Okay.

But I'm ten times
braver than you.

Sure you are.

Ha!

Let's just see who's
braver, Arthur Read.

ARTHUR:
The next day after school,
I went up to the attic

to get some scary decorations
for the tree house.

(switch clicking)

That's the first time
I saw it.

ARTHUR:
Ugh!

Where on earth did this
come from?

"Zelda."

I thought that maybe the doll
had belonged to Mom or Dad,

or maybe even Grandma Thora.

It's really old and spooky.

If it's okay, I'd love to use it

for my sleepover.

Huh?

But it was just here
a minute ago.

Maybe Pal ran off with it.

It'll turn up.

The next day, after school,
I took the decorations

over to the tree house.

VOICE:
Arrrr-thurrrrr...

Who's there?

(wind whistling)

Just the wind.

(gasps)

It said,
"This is MY tree house."

Right there.

Written in chalk.

(gasps)

I wiped it away.

Maybe it was just D.W.,
playing a trick on you.

She's not allowed
to come up here alone.

And anyway, she can't write.

Well, neither can dolls.

Unless, of course,
that doll isn't really a doll.

Oh, phony baloney.

You guys are
jumping to conclusions.

Wait, it gets worse.

After I finished
decorating,

I didn't come back
until earlier today.

I wanted to drop off some stuff
before getting into costume

and trick-or-treating.

I also thought someone might be
playing a trick on me,

but I wasn't going to let it
ruin my sleepover.

If you're trying to scare me,
it's not going to work,

so you can just give up now.

(screams)

She was sitting

right there!

No way.

Come on.

You're making this up.

I'm not.

I swear.

What did you do?

I dug a hole and buried her
over by that rock.

But what if she comes back?

Guys, relax.

I'm sure there's
a rational explanation.

That's true.

Maybe Zelda's an alien.

That's a rational explanation?

Well, whatever it is,
I'm starting to think

that this sleepover
was a really bad idea.

(knocking)

(all gasp)

VOICE:
Ar...thur.

(screaming)

Ha!

I knew this prom dress
costume was scary.

Whew! It's just you.

Who were you expecting?

Muffy's not here yet?

Oh, man!

She's going
to be so angry at me.

Why?

I was supposed
to meet her at her place

and then we were
going to trick-or-treat

at the fancy houses.

But I got stuck at this
one apartment in our building.

It was actually kind of freaky.

Was there
a doll there?

With a big head
and one eye?

Huh? No.

It was even
scarier than that.

FRANCINE:
Every year, the tenants
in our building put up a list

of apartments you can
trick-or-treat at.

I know them all by heart.

There's Mrs. Parizeau.

She always gives fruit.

Trick or treat!

There you go.

Prunes, sweetheart.

That's nature's candy.

Uh, thanks.

FRANCINE:
There's Mr. Bellamy.

He always does the old
hand-in-a-bowl-of-candy trick.

Trick or treat!

Ah, no...!

It's a live hand
in a bowl of candy!

FRANCINE:
And then Mr. Bellamy forgets
that his hand is in the bowl.

Oh, you dropped some!

Oh...

(sighs)

Then there are the Lancasters.

They always try to guess
your costume, and fail.

You're a fairy godmother.

Uh, a fancy... lampshade.

Uh, Queen Isabella
of Spain.

Oh, oh.
The feudal system.

I'm a prom queen.

Thanks.

I only had one more apartment
to hit.

Someone I had never met before.

Yes?

Trick or treat!

Oh, is it Halloween already?

I completely forgot.

Come in, come in!

Excuse the mess.

I was just going
through some old photos.

Sit, sit.

I have candy here somewhere.

What is that?

That, my dear, is a golem.

What's a golem?

A monster made from clay

and then brought to life
by a magic spell.

(laughing)

Oh? You don't believe me?

I took that picture myself.

But even
without a photo,

I would never
forget the face

of that hideous creature.

I'd tell you the story,

but I shouldn't be frightening
children like this.

I was a little girl,
just about your age.

We lived in a small town
called Mindelplatz,

not far from Prague.

(trolley bell dinging)

There was a young man
in the town

who was a great violinist.

(playing fast notes)

His music was so beautiful!

It was said it could make
dead plants grow.

(applause)

Then one day, the violinist was
in a terrible accident.

(trolley bell dinging)

He was hit by a trolley car,

and all his fingers
were broken.

They eventually healed,
but he was no longer able

to play the violin.

People rarely saw the violinist
after that.

He stayed in his room,

reading ancient books
about magic.

(cat meowing)

(purrs and meows)

(camera clicks)

He grew bitter,
angry at the world.

In one of his books,
he learned how to make

the golem.

(clay squishes)

And he brought him to life.

But the golem
turned against him.

He couldn't control
the creature.

(camera clicks)

No one could.

(crowd screaming)

(barrels crash)

(screams)

Oh!

(camera clicks)

FRANCINE:
Wow!

That's some story!

How'd you escape?

Who's to say I did?

Huh?

Anyway, look what
I found for you.

It's marzipan,
a delicious almond paste.

Happy Halloween,
my dear.

Right after
I left the apartment,

I noticed that somehow,
one of the woman's photographs

had fallen
into my Halloween bag.

So I went to return it.

(knocking)

But this time,
a man answered the door.

Oh, hi!

You must be Mr. Saperstein.

Somehow, this fell in my bag.

That's my little sister.

She disappeared
when we were children.

(gasps)

(Ladonna, Arthur,
and Buster gasp)

LADONNA:
So...

That was her ghost?

I don't know.

Maybe.

Why does everyone get to see
a ghost except for me?

No offense,
but I think her story

was scarier
than both of yours.

It's not
a competition.

Can I borrow
your phone?

I have to call Muffy.

She'd already left by the time
I got to her house.

(phone ringing)

I waited for minutes!

I'm sorry,
I'm sorry.

I got held up
at my building.

Well, where are you now?

The tree house.

Are you coming?

I'll be there
in a little bit.

I still have to hit
the MacNeil Mansion.

Well, hurry up.

I can't wait to tell you
what happened to me.

You're never
going to believe...

(dial tone, then a beep)

Hello?

Francine, are you there?

(phone beeps)

Oh! I'm out of juice.

Bailey, can I borrow your phone?

Alas, I didn't bring mine,
Miss Muffy.

It didn't feel appropriate
that the Mad Hatter

would be carrying one.

(loud pop)

Oh, dear.

What happened?

We seem to have blown a tire.

MUFFY:
Can you fix it?

Perhaps.

Do you have any chewing gum?

Chewing gum? Me?!

Really, Bailey,
you know me better than that.

Mmm, I didn't think so.

Then I'm afraid we're
in a bit of a pickle.

Well, we have to do something.

The MacNeils give out
chocolate truffles

and pralines.

It's the best house
on my list.

Might I suggest walking,
Miss Muffy?

Oh, I was afraid
you were going to say that.

These shoes are very pinchy.

(sighs)

Well, if we're going
to walk,

we might as well
take the shortcut.

You mean...
through the cemetery?

Sure. Why not?

(gate creaks open)

Don't tell me you're afraid.

Bailey Carson Belvedere III,
afraid?

I think not.

Good. Then we'll be there
in a jiffy.

(raccoon chitters)

(Bailey screams)

MUFFY:
And when we get to the
MacNeils', we'll call a taxi.

(bird cries)

BAILEY:
Egads! What was that?

(sighs)

Probably another raccoon.

You know, it's fine
if you're scared.

(clears his throat)

Yes, well, thank you
for your concern, Miss Muffy,

but, as I said,
I'm absolutely...

(owl shrieks)

Gadzooks!

That looked like
a flying badger.

(hooting)

It's just an owl,
Bailey.

Well, owls are very dangerous.

If you're a small rodent.

(sighs)

Perhaps I am a little edgy.

But why aren't you, Miss Muffy?

Last Halloween,

before Francine and I went
trick-or-treating,

we dared each other to run
through the cemetery.

(gate creaks open)

(wind blowing)

You sure you want
to do this?

Crosswires never
back down from a dare.

Well,
neither do Frenskys.

(owl hooting)

MUFFY:
We were both terrified.

But we made it all the way and,
well, it was super exciting!

(panting and laughing)

Let's do it again!

After that,
we did it four more times.

So now this place doesn't
scare me anymore.

To tell you the truth,

I actually miss
being a little scared.

It made Halloween more fun.

(thunder)

Oh, no!

This dress is going
to get ruined!

Now, that's scary.

Come on.

(thunder)

(screams)

I can barely see
where I'm going!

We best take shelter,
Miss Muffy.

Over here.

(thunder)

(cat moaning and hissing)

My sentiments
exactly.

This evening
is ruined.

I beg your pardon,
Miss Muffy, but...

I didn't say anything.

You didn't?

Then, who...?

(growls)

(yowls)

(Bailey and Muffy scream)

(thunder)

Do you think we should
go to my house?

Even if there
aren't any ghosts,

this roof can leak.

What?
No, we have to stay.

I mean, just for
a little bit longer?

At least until
the rain lets up.

(someone panting outside)

Huh?

Ahh! What's that?!

I bet it's the golem.

(panting)

Hey. Sorry I'm late.

(all sigh with relief)

BUSTER:
What a night!

What are you supposed to be?

A couch?

I'm Puffy
McPuffmeister.

He's a professional wrestler.

He pins people
with his squishy body.

You win!

Uncle!

Sheesh!

Have I had a strange night!

You too?

We were just talking
about all the spooky things

that have happened tonight.

Nothing spooky happened to me.

Except someone gave me
some Brussels sprouts.

Want some?

They're actually delicious.

(groaning)

Well, my story
is the spookiest.

It all started when I went over

to toilet-paper
Mr. Ratburn's house.

You what?!

You're in so
much trouble!

Are you nuts?!

Calm down.

I didn't actually do it.

In fact, I never even
wanted to do it.

BINKY:
But the Tough Customers
always do a prank on Halloween.

It's a tradition.

And I drew the short straw.

Aw, man!

Huh?

Wow.

I mean...

Yippee!

BINKY:
But when I got to his house,

I knew I couldn't
go through with it.

I was just about
to turn around when...

VOICE:
Nevermore!

Was that you?

Nevermore!

Never more what?

Nevermore!

If you say "nevermore"
one more time,

I'm going to pluck
your feathers.

(squawks)

(door creaks open)

(poof)

If you solve the puzzles within,

countless treasures
you shall win.

But if you enter and you fail,

eternal doom shall prevail.

So, mortal, do you dare to enter

Mr. Ratburn's terrible lair?

(cackling evilly)

(poof)

BINKY:
The doom part
didn't sound so good.

But I did like the idea
of "countless treasures."

Eh. It's worth a sh*t.

(door creaks shut)

Nevermore!

(clock chimes)

Um, Mr. Ratburn?

That clock is wrong.

It's only : .

BINKY:
The note said
to turn the lantern on.

So, that's what I did.

All of a sudden,

I noticed this puppet
in the corner,

and it opened one eye.

Wait.

Did this puppet
have a baby's head?

Was it called Zelda?

Um, no.

It was some old guy.

And I didn't ask him his name.

But that creepy eye...

It was...
really, really creepy!

And then,
I heard this b*ating sound.

Like a heart.

(thumping)

It wouldn't stop.

And it kept getting louder,
until finally...

That's it--
you can keep the treasure!

I'm outta here!

It was the scariest room
I'd ever been in.

Except maybe for math class.

Wait a minute.

That scene
you just described.

That's from
"The Tell-tale Heart."

The wha...?

You know,
the short story

by Edgar Allan Poe.

Binky, we've been
studying them in class

for the past two weeks.

Haven't you been
paying attention?

Um... no comment.

I thought it might be fun
to read one aloud tonight.

Hey, I bet the treasure
was under a floorboard!

That's where
the thump-thump

was coming from
in the story.

You mean I was standing

on top of candy
all that time?

Aw, man!

LADONNA:
Well, look at it this way.

At least nothing actually scary
was going on.

Yeah, I guess you're right.

(screams)

What is it?

I left my backpack
with the toilet paper in it

at Mr. Ratburn's house.

Now he'll know
what I was planning!

He could give me
detention for life.

I gotta get it back.

You know, this is
a very weird Halloween.

I'll say.

FRANCINE:
But you know something?

I'm not
afraid.

Ghosts,
schmosts.

Neither
am I.

If we all
stick together,

we'll be
just fine.

Let's get into
our sleeping bags.

(distant voice giggling)

Did you giggle?

I didn't giggle.

You?

Uh-uh.

It wasn't me.

Maybe it was a frog.

Do frogs giggle?

I don't know.

(voice giggling)

Okay, that wasn't a frog!

VOICE:
This treehouse is mine!

(voice echoes)

(kids scream)

(thunder)

BUSTER:
I'm outta here!

(screaming)

(screaming)

(laughing)

Ah, the looks on their faces.

(thunder)

ARTHUR:
And then we heard the voice!

BUSTER:
It said,

"This tree house
is mine."

It was clear as day.

Are you sure
it wasn't just the wind?

It was really howling
a little while ago.

Uh-uh,
it was Zelda.

I know it was.

Poor Arthur.

Afwaid of a wittle doll.

Was it shaking
its scawy wattle?

(laughing)

D.W., this is serious.

You would have
been terrified out there.

Would not.

Anyway, I guess
we'll never know

because you didn't
invite me to your party.

You should be thanking
me for not inviting you.

All right, all right,
settle down, you two.

Why don't I make us all
some nice hot cocoa?

Can I use
your bathroom?

I got mud
all over my prom dress.

I actually think
it looks better now,

but I borrowed it
from Catherine.

Sure.

Hey, where's Ladonna?

I thought she was
right behind you.

She was.

You don't think
that Zelda...

(rapid knocking)

(screaming)

Quick, quick.

Close the door.

W-What happened?

I went back to get my backpack.

What?

That's crazy.

I know, but I had some of
my favorite books with me.

I wasn't about
to let that doll get them.

Which... she almost did.

(gasps)

No way!

When I went back
to the tree house,

I saw her sitting
in the corner.

I snatched my bag
and I ran towards your house.

Then I looked behind me,

and she was limping
after me.

Wow, she's got one eye
and a limp?

Poor little doll.

(giggling)

Oh, you wouldn't be laughing
if you'd seen her.

Anyway, that's when
I tripped in the mud.

Could I borrow
a sweatshirt or something?

Come on.

I'll find you one of Mom's.

You don't want to wear one
of Arthur's smelly old things.

(thunder)

D.W.:
Was Arthur really,
really scared?

LADONNA:
Oh, yeah.

When he heard that voice,

he turned white
as a powdered doughnut.

That's because I do
such a good ghost impression.

"This tree house is mine!"

(laughing)

(Ladonna and D.W. laughing)

I may only
have one eye,

but Zelda
sees everything.

Shh!

Keep it down.

Someone will hear you.

I think I've shown Arthur
who the scaredy-cat is now.

D.W.:
Thanks for the help.

Wait.

I've saved the best part
for last.

Arthur buried the doll
after the last time he saw her,

so...

I dug her up!

Ugh!

She looks even worse
than before.

I know, pretty cool, huh?

Oh. I also brought back
the other walkie-talkie.

What do you say
we pull one last trick?

I just saw Zelda.

Where?!

In the house?!

In your Mom and Dad's bedroom,
with her friends.

She has friends?

We're under att*ck!

Relax.

Her friends
happen to be

Ladonna, Bud,
and D.W.

They've been
pranking us.

But, that voice.

How did...?

I saw Bud with a walkie-talkie.

I bet they planted the other one
in the tree house.

Wow.

He sure does
a good creepy-baby-ghost doll.

Of all
the rotten tricks!

I bet this was
all D.W.'s idea.

I'll show her who's...

Wait, I've got
a better plan.

Maybe it's time they got
a taste of their own medicine.

(yowling)

(growling)

(thunder)

(meowing)

Oh, it's just a cat.

It seems to have
a collar.

It's probably lost.

Perhaps there's
an address on its tag.

Careful, Bailey.

It looks very afraid.

Oh, not to worry,
Miss Muffy.

I'm very good
with cats.

Sometimes, I think
they believe I'm one of them.

Here, little kitty.

BAILEY:
Don't be afraid.

(cat growls)

BAILEY:
Oh! Oh, dear!

(ripping)

No. Not the trousers!

I think that one believed
you were its scratching post.

Indeed.

This really hasn't
been my night.

Oh, poor Bailey.

Here, have some of my candy.

I'm sure the rain
will let up soon.

(thunder)

Miss Muffy, watch out!

That crazed panther
is advancing.

Shoo! Scat!

You're a mean
butler-scratcher.

(purring)

Oh, stop it!

You're getting hair
all over my costume.

(sighs)

I give up.

I guess I'll just be Alice after
she met the Cheshire Cat.

(purring)

"My name is Inky Krueger.

I live at Elm Street."

That's not far from here.

But it's in
the opposite direction

of the MacNeil house.

Look! It stopped
raining!

MUFFY:
Maybe she'll just find
her own way home?

(owl hoots)

BAILEY:
Miss Muffy...

Do you really want
to just leave her here?

(Inky meows)

Fine.

We'll drop her off,
but let's hurry.

The MacNeils turn off
the chocolate fountain

promptly at : .

Can I have your hat?

In!

Are these decorations,

or is this house
always like this?

Nevermore!

(gasps)

Let's get
out of here.

This place is weird.

Wait, come back!

Of course
they're just decorations!

I don't
actually live like this!

(door creaks open)

(sighs)

: and I've only had
one trick-or-treater.

Hmm...

Maybe I did go a bit
too far this year.

Oh... oh, dear!

I'm caught!

(Mr. Ratburn struggling)

(both scream)

(sighs)

Mm-hmm...

Okay, it's all set.

Did you put the doll

someplace
he'll see it?

It's right
on top of his bed

and I left
the door open.

He can't miss it.

Wait for my signal,
and then start moaning.

What kind of a moan
should I do?

The "I got a stomach
ache" moan?

Or the "I can't find
my hat" moan?

I don't know.

Just do something spooky.

What are we watching?

The Curse
of the Moomy.

ARTHUR:
It's what those
video games are based on.

Arthur?

I'm chilly.

Would you get me
my blankie from upstairs?

I left it in your room.

No.

Pretty, pretty please
with sugar on top?

There's one
right here.

What did I miss?

The moomy's about to scare
that archaeologist.

This one is too itchy!

Look, I'll give you some
of my Halloween candy

if you just get me
my blanket from upstairs.

How much candy?

I'll do it!

No, it has to be Arthur.

After all,
you're a guest.

Okay.

But I want pieces.

And I get to choose
which ones.

Fine.

Ahhhh....

choo!

LADONNA:
Oh, excuse me.

I think I'm allergic
to black-and-white movies.

(moaning spookily)

Shouldn't we have
heard a scream by now?

Here you go.

Was everything
all right up there?

ARTHUR:
Uh-huh.

Are you sure?

Uh-huh.

Mmm.

These choco-clusters
you got are delicious!

Here, Francine.

Buster, have some.

Excuse me!

(sniffling)

I need a tissue.

Be right back.

(giggling)

Are you three up to something
I should know about?

Us? No.

Uh-uh.

The gate appears to be locked.

Locked?

They must have closed
the cemetery

while we were
waiting out the rain.

What do we do?

BAILEY:
It's not terribly high.

I'll just lift you over.

(Inky meows)

Do you need any help?

No, no.

In the Butler Academy
I attended,

we were trained
for all sorts of...

(groans)

...eventualities.

(groans)

Oh no, your shoe!

(ripping)

Your jacket!

Although I suppose
it's impossible

to prepare for
a night like this.

Shall we...

...forge on,
Miss Muffy?

I'll pick my shoe up
in the morning.

If it hasn't been
devoured by wild dogs.

(doorbell rings)

(guests chatting)

Now that's
a great zombie costume.

WOMAN:
Hmm, and what are you?

A magician?

Um... kind of.

(meows)

Inky!

I could have sworn
I left it there.

You didn't see a backpack
around here, did you?

Nevermore!

That's not very helpful.

Mr. Ratburn must have
found it already.

I'm doomed.

I wonder what the punishment is
for planning to toilet paper

a teacher's house.

All right, now,

who can solve
this problem?

Binky?

(muffled grunting)

No, (grunting)
is incorrect.

You get another F
for class participation.

(moaning)

(groans)

This is the worst
Halloween ever.

(poof)

VOICE:
Solve the puzzles
in Ratburn's lair,

and perhaps your punishment
he will spare!

No way.

You don't know Mr. Ratburn.

I'm doomed!

(sighs)

Know him well,
I think I do...

MR. RATBURN (over speaker):
Do what I say and he will be
merciful to you.

I'm not so sure.

MR. RATBURN:
Oh, just come inside already!

(poof)

I'm telling you,

I put her right there,
facing the door

so he couldn't
miss her.

LADONNA:
See? The other walkie-talkie
is still there.

Do you think Arthur knows
we're up to something?

Maybe it was
my moan.

I should have done

my "I don't want a bath" moan.

That one's the scariest.

Wha...?

Wait a second.

What's that?!

D.W.:
They look like...

little baby footprints.

Could they be Kate's?

Kate is downstairs
with Grandma.

BUSTER:
Hey, guys!

(all shout)

What's going on?

You're missing
the movie.

Just looking for tissues.

Thought I left
my hat here.

Now, where did I put
my candy?

I'll be right down.

Just going to the bathroom.

(chuckling)

(phone beeps)

That Mrs. Krueger
is so nice.

She just lent me
a charger for my phone.

And this is the most delightful
punch I've ever had.

MUFFY:
Ooh!

Chocolate-covered
strawberries.

The goodies here are
even better than the MacNeils'.

I never want
to leave.

MRS. READ:
Muffy!

Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Read.

What a great party.

I know, but what are
you doing here?

Shouldn't you be
at Arthur's sleepover

in the tree house?

It's a long story,
but I'm heading over there

right after this.

We'll give you a lift.

We should be
leaving soon anyway.

I love your costume,
Mrs....

Saperstein,
Ethel Saperstein.

And I love yours.

You can't go wrong
with Alice in Wonderland.

What's he dressed as?

My husband?

He's a golem.

What's that?

Have a seat.

I'll tell you
a little story.

I was a little girl,
just about your age.

We lived in a small town
called Mindelplatz,

not far from Prague...

(clock chimes)

I know, I know,
turn the lantern on.

(thumping)

Hmm, now, what did Buster say?

Oh yeah...
under the floorboards.

MR. RATBURN (over speaker):
Congratulations!

You have solved
the first puzzle.

A book?

I was kinda hoping
for some candy.

MR. RATBURN (over speaker):
It's the collected works

of Edgar Allan Poe,
the annotated version.

A treat for the mind.

I prefer treats for the belly.

But this treat also
contains clues

for solving the other puzzles.

Proceed to the next room.

Well, nothing in here
but a brick wall.

(scraping)

(man's voice moaning)

Yikes!

Mr. Ratburn has
a really bad mouse problem.

VOICE:
Alas, I am trapped
in this wine cellar forever!

Just like poor Fortunato...

in which classic
Edgar Allan Poe story?

Oh! Uh...

"The Gold Bug"?

No!

"Eleonora"?

No...

"The Pit and the Panda-loom."

No!

And it's pronounced
pendulum.

Have you read any
of the stories I've assigned?

Wait!

Is that you, Mr. Ratburn?

That toilet paper wasn't mine.

Okay, it was mine, but
I wasn't going to toilet paper

your house.

Okay, I was going
to toilet paper your house,

but I couldn't go
through with it.

Please!

Don't give me detention
for life!

(wall crashes)

I didn't do that either.

"The Cask of Amontillado."

Huh?

That's the name
of the story

on which
this room is based.

Had you
answered correctly,

you would have won
a licorice skeleton.

Too bad.

That looks really good.

Oh, you can
have some anyway.

I bought tons of candy

and you were my
only trick-or-treater.

Oh, thanks!

Wow!

Kids don't know
what they've missed.

This place is really cool.

You really think so?

Yeah.

In fact, it kind of makes me
want to read all these stories.

Oh! I almost forgot.

(Binky gasps)

I really wasn't going to do it.

I swear.

I believe you, Binky.

But if you must do a prank,
try to find something

a little safer
for the environment.

Now, let me show you
the rest of the house.

I'm particularly proud

of my "Fall of the House
of Usher" room.

That wasn't very scary.

Yeah, the only
scary part was when

the big spider
ate the guy's hat.

Huh?
I don't remember that.

(yawns)

Oh wait, I think
I dreamed that part.

(yawns)

I think someone
might be ready for bed.

Yeah, I should take
you home, Bud.

You can return the
sweatshirt tomorrow.

Sorry things didn't work
out at the tree house.

Huh?

Oh, right.

I'm just glad that spooky
doll didn't show up again.

Me too.

Well, get home safe.

Don't forget your backpack.

D.W.:
Okay.

All clear.

And you promise
you didn't see

any little muddy footprints
in my room, right?

No, dear. Why?

No reason.

(yawns)

Good night, Grandma.

Good night, D.W.

What about Zelda?

Where'd she go?

Mom'll be upset
if she finds out she's missing.

We'll come back and
look for her tomorrow.

I still don't
understand how...

(voice cackling)

What's so funny?

I didn't laugh.

VOICE:
I know what you did!

It's her-- it's Zelda!

She's come to life!

It was all D.W.'s idea, Zelda!

Calm down.

I think I know
what's going on.

VOICE:
You can't find me.

I'm everywhere!

Gah!

(Buster and Francine laughing)

VOICE:
D.W....

Who's there?

VOICE:
Come play with me, D.W....

Me?

Who's "me"?

VOICE:
I don't want to play
with Arthur...

I want to play
with you!

VOICE:
I've missed you, D.W.!

(screaming)

(D.W. screaming)

Yes!

D.W.:
Mommy! Mommy!

Arthur put
a creepy doll in my bed

and scared me really bad!

ARTHUR:
She's the one
who started it.

She ruined
my whole sleepover.

Hey, guys.

Why weren't you
at the tree house?

I just came
from there.

Ladonna, Bud, and D.W.
pranked us and made us think

the tree house
was haunted.

We just pranked
'em back.

How was
your Halloween?

Well, I never got
to the MacNeils',

but I did wind up
at this other house

where they
were having a party

and had great treats!

Here, I took some pictures.

There's Bailey.

He started dancing
and wouldn't stop.

I've never seen him
have so much fun.

Those are some
kooky guests I met.

There are the Reads.

Wait, wait.

Go back.

That's the woman I was
telling you about.

You mean,
the one who...

Oh, you know the Sapersteins?

They're a hoot.

She told me
they play this great trick

on kids every Halloween.

Trick? What trick?

First, she tells this story
about some monster

called a golem,
and then they pretend

she's his little sister
who vanished.

It's really elaborate.

It sure is!

Who would ever fall for that?

Hey, guys.

Mom and Dad said
I have to cut

the Halloween
sleepover short.

I kind of scared D.W.
a little too much.

So... truce?

Truce.

All right.

Good night, you two.

What is it, D.W.?

I'm still scared.

(sighs)

That was a pretty
complicated trick

you played on me.

I'm still trying
to figure out

how you did all that.

It wasn't so hard.

After you scared me
with that fake snake

in the cereal box,
I called Bud.

A fake snake in a cereal box?

Of all the rotten tricks!

Sure, I'll help you
get him back.

D.W.:
We paid Ladonna cents,
an old candy cane,

and some monster stickers
to help us.

But I think she really
did it for kicks.

She was the one who had
the idea to scare you

with that b*at-up old doll.

(gasping)

D.W.:
I knew you would want

to decorate the tree house
for your party,

so we put Zelda
near the Halloween stuff.

That was the whole plan,
just to scare you in the attic.

But when I saw that
you had taken Zelda with you,

I decided we should
keep going.

We put one walkie-talkie
in the tree house

and Bud had the other one.

BUD:
Arrrr-thurrrrr....

Who's there?!

(wind whistling)

Just the wind.

(stifling giggles)

And then Ladonna wrote
on the wall

of the tree house
in chalk,

and then she
put the doll...

Okay, okay,
I know the rest.

Well, this is one Halloween

I'm sure going
to remember.

Me too.

I would never let anything
really scary happen to you.

I'd protect you.

You know that, right?

Yeah.

And I'd protect you, too.

(child laughs)

D.W.!

It wasn't me.

I swear!

(child laughs)

(gasping)

(laughing)

(Arthur and D.W. scream)

(laughing)

BUSTER:
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.