♪ 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, 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) (regal music playing) Welcome to another exciting episode of Mashed Peas Theater.

I'm your host, Baby Kate.

And I'm your other host, Pal.

Today's show begins as so many spooky tales do.

It was a dark and stormy night!

(thunder roaring) Well, technically it wasn't stormy until the very end.

Fine.

It's a dark and windy night.

Actually, it wasn't that dark in the beginning.

Pal, would you please let me finish my introduction?

Right, sorry.

In today's show, a magic spell is cast over an unsuspecting person.

You are under my spell!

I command you to cook bacon!

The unsuspecting person is not the TV audience.

True, but a TV is involved.

A TV, and a most bizarre ritual.

A ritual with nachos.

Nachos?

They weren't important at all!

Maybe to you.

(groans) Why do I even bother?

Prepare to be thrilled, frightened, and very hungry.

(thunder rumbling) (gasps) "Invasion of the Soccer Fans."

(wind blowing) D.W.: To the left!

No, the other left!

There is no other left.

How should I know?

I'm only in preschool.

Excited for the big game, D.W.?

Oh, yeah!

The Crown City Cobras are going to crush the Sherwood Sharks and sweep the Super Bowl.

The Super Bowl is in football, D.W.

This is the women's soccer semifinals.

(scoffs) Details, details.

As long as we win, I'm happy.

There's something strange going on today.

People do seem very excited.

KATE: I've also heard them saying the word "ball" more than usual.

Perhaps they're going to watch a game of fetch on the Black Box.

Why would you watch fetch when you can just go outside and play it?

I'll never understand people.

ARTHUR: Come on, everyone!

It's about to start!

I wish I was actually at the game with Alberto.

MR. MOLINA: Me, too.

He's so lucky that he got to go with his team.

Maybe we'll see him in the stands.

Mighty Cobras can't be beat!

You can't stop our speedy feet!

Go Cobras!

Do you have a cheer?

(loudly): Win!

Win!

It's the volume that counts.

(whistle blows) Bring it downfield!

Pass it, she's wide open!

Look at them!

They're all under some sort of spell.

You're right!

Their eyes are wide and glassy.

They keep shouting at the Black Box.

Blo blabby!

Blo blabby!

Even sworn enemies have joined together.

Something is definitely not right.

Kate, what do you think we should do?

Look at those tiny people all running back and forth.

Kate?

It's... it's so exciting!

Kate, no!

Come back!

Hey, looks like Kate loves soccer, too.

(Kate babbling) Here, come sit with the other Cobra fans.

Kate, down here!

Kate!

Pal, blee blyott!

Shh!

She... She wouldn't even look at me.

It's not her fault, my friend.

She is under the spell.

That Black Box has some nerve, hypnotizing an innocent baby!

I'm going to bite its legs.

Killer, wait.

There may be an easier way.

Hernandez has the ball!

She's wide open!

Go Cobras!

Win!

Win!

Now!

Killer!

What are you doing?

(spitting) Amigo, no!

Down, down!

Pal, please!

I'm... Huh?

Where was I?

I broke the spell!

Oh, Kate, talk to me.

Are you all right?

Yes, I'm fine.

I just... (gasps) Lookee!

(Kate babbling) No!

Don't look at that wiggly monster.

Look at me.

Blay blon blah bloor.

Bad dog!

(whimpering) I thought face-licking would work.

It always breaks the spell with Alberto.

It worked with Kate, but then a strange beasty appeared in the Black Box and she succumbed again.

That's it!

No more Mrs. Nice Dog.

Now we attack.

But the Black Box is so big!

And boxy.

Listen to you two.

You sound like a bunch of cats.

Who's the boss of people?

Squareface out there, or dogs?

Dogs?

I can't hear you!

Dogs!

All right, then.

Now let's go out there and take back this house.

Come on!

We have to get a goal before halftime!

You can't expect them to score when you're cheering with those indoor voices.

Make some noise!

(barking) Not you, you crazy dogs.

What has gotten into them?

Maybe we should put them in the kitchen until the game is over.

(barking continues) (barking) (whimpering) ARTHUR: Let go!

You're changing the channels.

(grunts) I just want to make it louder.

Hmm!

Great plan.

The spell isn't broken and we're stuck in here while they're eating nachos.

It ain't my fault.

That box is cold, bloodless.

Nothing could defeat it.

There might be something.

Did you notice that thing Arthur and D.W. were fighting over?

It looked like a stubby black chew toy.

Well, it seemed to change the pictures on the Black Box.

So if we can get that chew toy... We might be able to break the spell.

But how do we get back into that room?

Simple.

They're going to let us in.

(grunting) (groans) (wind blowing) (grunts) (doorbell rings) Who could that be?

(barking) Huh?

Whoa!

Look, it's Alberto!

(blowing vuvuzela) I have to get a picture.

(barking) (camera shutter snaps) (barking) Oh, no!

Quick!

Put the game back on.

Where's the remote?

It was right here a second ago.

I knew I should have been put in charge of it.

You lose everything.

Hmm... We did it!

The Black Box will be useless now.

No thanks to you.

What?

I was creating a diversion.

Quick!

We have to hide the stick before the people come looking for it.

(whimpers) (lock rattling) He's locked the doggie door.

It looks like we're stuck out here.

And I think it's going to rain.

What does it matter?

I've lost Kate to that horrible box.

Life will never be the same.

Let's go to the window.

Who knows?

Maybe she'll see you.

(people cheering) (thunder rumbling) Huh?

Pal!

I think we're getting a storm.

(gasps) (people cheering) I'm going to let the dogs back in.

(thunder rumbling) D.W.: Huh?

The lights!

It's okay.

I'm sure they'll be back on in a second.

I better close the windows.

(remote clicking) The TV's broken!

Oh, dear.

The storm might have fried it.

What?

No way!

Kate!

Oh, you're back!

So are you!

What were you doing out there?

Oh, it's a long story.

How do you feel?

As if I've woken up from a long, strange dream.

Hey, what's wrong with Arthur?

He looks so sad.

Everyone looks sad.

It must be because there are no more pictures on the box.

I wonder if that cord has something to do with it.

Should I say something?

Don't do it!

You could lose Kate again.

No, Killer.

Not this time.

I promise I won't look at the box, not even once.

Do it, Pal.

For Arthur.

(barking) Huh?

(barking) Hey!

The TV's just unplugged!

Good boy!

Stay strong, Kate.

Oh, please, it's really not that hard.

I'm watching something far more interesting.

ALL: Goal!

MR. MOLINA: Mighty Cobras can't be beat!

You can't stop our speedy feet!

ALL: Go Cobras!

And now a word from us kids!

(cheering) Arthur and his family and friends were watching a game.

Get it in, get it in!

Oh!

And today, we're watching a game.

We're watching a game of trashball, which first grade invented.

Hello!

You'll be watching trashball!

My name is Aki.

Suzanne and I are doing a sports TV show about trashball.

Oh no, whoa!

SUZANNE: My job is to hold up a camera and film Aki.

My job is to watch trashball and say lots of things at the microphone.

Wow, what a throw!

Trashball is like basketball.

You get on the right side of the yellow line.

You can pass the ball to other people on your team, but the main idea is to get it into the trash can.

AKI: Wow, that was so close!

And no one got it in the trash can yet!

There's two teams.

The Crushers and the Trash Busters!

The other first grade wanted to cheer.

Let's go, Crushers, let's go!

When you cheer on your team, they have confidence that they will win.

Let's go, Trash Busters, let's go!

As a player, when I hear cheering, it helps me a lot to focus on the game.

When you play when somebody's cheering, don't you like it?

Let's go, Trash Busters, let's go!

When you play on the playground, you want to have positive cheering and teamwork.

Teamwork is when people work together to make something, like to get a goal in there.

(cheering) I like sports.

Do you like sports?

There's basketball, there's football, there's trashball... And now back to Arthur!

(trash rattling) (sniffing) Oh, they say every dog has his day.

I guess today is mine!

(flies buzzing) (rattling) PAL: Hi, everyone!

I'm home!

Blahba's bog bis stinky!

Bleh bloo bee-boo?

Bad Pal!

Bad!

(whimpering) "Pal and the Big Itch."

I just don't get it.

It's such a nasty habit.

Nonsense.

The next best thing to eating food is rolling in it.

I have the most annoying itch right here.

I think a little buggy bit me.

Maybe you should stop digging at it.

Kate, the only upside to having a bad itch is the exquisite pleasure of scratching it constantly.

(whimpering) Boo boy!

Be blebber blate bloo boo the vet!

(gasps) He was fine yesterday.

He just complained about being itchy.

How itchy?

Well, very itchy.

It must have been The Big Itch.

¡Ay!

¡Hueso de jamón!

Not The Big Itch!

Oh, dear, what's The Big Itch?

An itch so bad that no matter how much you scratch it, it never lets you go.

Like this.

(growling) The only thing worse than The Big Itch is...

...The Cone!

PAL: It was terrible!

Oh, the agonies I endured!

Oh, you poor thing!

What did they do to you?

Well, for starters, the vet shaved me and put some spray on my itchy spot.

It was quite chilly.

When I returned to the waiting room in this horrid contraption, all the other dogs laughed at me.

Well, you look a bit like an ugly lamp.

Killer!

I meant a nice lamp.

The psychological pain was so great, I lost my appetite.

(gasps) I think it's coming back now.

Where are you going?

Come back here and be eaten!

(sighs) On top of the humiliation, I shall probably starve to death.

I could bring you some leftovers.

And I could feed them to you.

I suppose it's worth a try.

I must keep up my strength for Arthur's sake.

Don't worry, Pal, we'll take care of you.

Won't we, Killer?

Well, I'm not giving you my roast beef, but yeah, sure.

We'll get you back on your feet again.

Best hurry, Amigo.

Before my appetite fades again.

Oh, yes, right there.

A little softer.

Softer...

Think of a feather tickling a cloud.

Okay, that's too soft.

I can't feel a thing.

I'm taking a break.

A break?

How I wish I could take a break from this cone!

But alas, it's been two whole days.

I shall probably wear it forever.

Okay, okay.

It's about time!

I haven't eaten anything all day.

That's not entirely true.

Since Arthur raised your bowl, you've been able to reach your kibble.

Yes, but I can barely choke it down with this thing strangling me.

What's this?

Pizza crusts.

They came home late yesterday and didn't cook anything.

How irresponsible!

Don't they know children need roast beef, lamb chops, and hot dogs to grow?

If you don't want it, I'll eat it.

No, no, I suppose it's better than nothing.

Ah!

It's happening!

The itch!

Oh, someone please scratch me!

Please!

Pal, we can't.

Arthur just put ointment on it.

It has to heal.

Then distract me.

Killer, dance!

Are you crazy?

I'm not dancing for you!

Isn't there something you could do to distract him?

I suppose I could tell him about my grandfather, Fido Carnebone, the most feared and respected dog in the neighborhood.

Everyone called him...

The Dogfather.

(door opens) Dogs would come from miles to ask his advice.

The lousy cur!

He took my ball!

Dogfather, help me!

I'll talk to him.

(dogs growling) (barks) KILLER: Fido controlled the local park with his three young pups.

A dog couldn't so much as yip without their permission.

There was Sonny, a real hothead.

Then there was Bobo.

He was useless.

Finally, there was th e youngest, my father Mickey.

He was cunning, cautious, and ruthless.

(sniffing) (balloon pops) The Carnebone family had more bones than the Natural History Museum.

Then one day, the Dogfather was betrayed by one of his own pups.

PAL: Who?

Was it Sonny?

I bet it was Sonny.

(gasps) Or was it Mickey?

It was... GRANDMA THORA: Killer!

Gotta go!

It's time for my walk.

Wait!

You can't just leave like that.

I have to know what happens.

I'll tell you more later, if you're still stuck in that cone.

Killer's story seems to have worked.

You're not itchy anymore.

No, but I am famished.

Well, what are you waiting for?

Feed me.

(clears throat) Are we still on a break?

(gulps) Ah!

That's right.

Dolce ma non troppo.

Bloo blaw bleeber!

Good boy.

(happy whimper) (fly buzzing) KATE: Pal!

No more cone!

Congratulations, my friend.

How do you feel?

Like a little pup again.

(fly buzzing) Oh, there's so much to see and smell and... (sniffing) I say, what's that?

I brought you some roast beef.

But, eh, now that you're better... Well, I'm not entirely better.

No?

Oh, no.

The spot is still terribly sore.

Ooh!

It stings just looking at it!

The spot is on your other leg.

Oh.

Really?

Maybe it's spreading.

And the memories!

Such humiliation!

I shall be scarred for life!

I can still hear their laughter ringing in my ears.

(Kate laughing) Wow.

I really can still hear it.

(laughing) (gasps) Kate!

How could you?

You look fine to me.

(gobbling roast beef) (gulps) Please.

Just a few strokes.

Pal, I said no.

I'm very busy.

I've almost learned all these animal sounds.

Let's see, the duck goes... moo?

(quacking) Oh, rats!

I knew that one.

See?

You made me mess up.

If you pet the dog, he goes, "Ah!"

GRANDMA THORA: Bello!

Bany bobby home?

Ooh, Killer's here!

I can hear the rest of the story.

I'll tell you more later if you're still stuck in that cone.

Bad cone!

Stay on!

KILLER: How's the patient?

Awful!

The itch is so powerful I can barely move.

Please, Killer, distract me.

Distract you, huh?

Okay.

I'll tell you about the betrayal of Fido Carnebone.

Fido would take a short stroll around the neighborhood in the evening.

It was the only time he was ever alone.

One evening, he heard the whimper of a dog in pain.

(whimpering) It was one of Fido's sons, bu t he couldn't tell which one.

He went over to him.

(growling) That's when he realized he had been set up.

No, not you!

How could you?

(growling) His son wasn't hurt at all.

He was... faking it!

Just like you.

Who, me?

I would never!

Oh, dear.

It must be defective.

Of all the rotten tricks!

Oh, please.

I have to know.

Was it Sonny or Mickey?

Or was it that simpleton Bobo?

I'm never going to tell you.

Never!

(sighs) No strokes, no meaty treats, no satisfying endings.

I almost wish I did have that itchy spot again.

It wasn't really that bad.

Hmm...

I need garbage to roll in.

(sniffing) Aha!

Hello, little buggies!

I'm here for you to bite me.

Ah!

Who turned out the lights?

Help!

Oh!

Amigo!

Thank goodness!

If not for you and your corpulence, I don't know what I would've done!

What on earth were you doing in there, Pal?

I just... (sighs) I missed the strokes, the stories, Ramon's cooking.

So you thought you would try to get your itch back?

Of all the silly, dangerous ideas you've ever... Why are you scratching that spot?

I got a boo-boo when I saved you.

It's all your fault.

No, Amigo.

Leave it alone!

If you bite at it, you might... (gasps) What do we have today?

Three delicious meatballs from last night's spaghetti.

Uh, I mean, two delicious meatballs.

One must have fallen out on the way over.

Mm, I bet.

Well, what are you waiting for?

So, after my mother ran away from the shelter, she joined up with a traveling circus.

At first, she was a clown dog, which must be why I have such a wonderful sense of humor, but then she moved on to the tightrope.

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.

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