♪ 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) Bud Compson here.

Today, I'd like to tell you about my best friend in the whole world... Rapty!

He may not look like much, but he's gotten me through some pretty tough times.

Like my first day of preschool.

(students chattering) What if no one likes me?

No one like Bud Compson?

Oh, that's crazy!

You're the most likeable person in the whole world!

Well, if you say so...

BUD: Or when I got my first haircut... No!

You leave my hair alone!

(zap) You're so lucky!

I wish I had some hair to cut!

I bet you're the handsomest kid in the whole town when it's done.

All right.

You can take a tiny bit off the top.

Yup, Rapty's the bravest dinosaur that ever roamed the earth.

Isn't that right?

Ho-ho!

Well, you know, I don't like to brag, but... Ahh!

Ants!

Oh, dozens of them!

(shrieking): Head for the hills!

Make that usually brave.

Get back here, you giant lizard kitten!

The Lost Dinosaur.

LADONNA: Bud!

Time to go to the Reads'!

Be down in a sec!

I just got to find Rapty.

What's taking you so long?

We're gonna be late.

I can't find him anywhere.

No wonder-- look at this place!

You could lose an elephant in here.

It just looks bad.

I know where everything is.

Except Rapty.

Hey!

Did you find him?

No... ...but I found this orange.

It's as hard as a baseball.

You have to clean this place up!

I will, I will.

Right after I find Rapty.

BUD: He's gone.

Vanished.

He didn't even leave a note.

I wouldn't worry.

Lost things always turn up.

Just the other day, I found a pacifier I lost.

When'd you lose it?

Three years ago.

Three years?

I can't wait that long!

And what if it's even longer?

I see you've listed a "Rapty" as a character reference...

I actually haven't seen him in 20 years, but when I knew him, he thought I had a great character!

I'll never get a job without him.

I'm sure it won't be th at long.

Mom says things always turn up where you least expect them.

Try looking in those places.

Not there.

Not there either.

Check your pockets.

Oh, brother.

MR. COMPTON: Sorry...

It's not here either.

We'll keep looking in the morning, but now it's time for bed.

But how am I gonna sleep without him?

It's just for tonight, Sport.

(groaning) Too soft.

Too hard.

(siren blaring) Too noisy.

(whispering): Ladonna, you asleep?

(yawns) Not anymore.

I can't sleep either.

It's just not the same without Rapty.

(sighs) Here, take Platy.

Your old stuffed animal?

He can't replace Rapty!

Who said anything about replacing?

It's not for keeps.

It's just so you can get some sleep.

Then maybe I can get some sleep.

(Bud groans) Not Rapty, but it'll do.

(bells tinkling) Huh?

(Australian accent): Bud Compson?

I've heard so much about you!

Oh, it's such an honor!

Put it there!

Nice to meet you, too.

But listen, I'm really sleepy, so... Let me tell you a little bit about me.

I'm not a duck, even though I do have a bill.

I'm a platypus!

We lay eggs, but I don't because I'm stuffed.

The only eggs I lay are bad jokes!

(laughs) Get it?

So, am I your imaginary friend now?

Kinda.

But just till Rapty gets back.

Rapty the T. rex?

I love that guy!

We met in a box on the way from Louisiana!

Where is he?

He's lost right now, but... Lost?

(sobbing): No!

Not Rapty!

Of all the toys to disappear!

It's okay, we're going to find him.

But what if we don't?

I only met him once, but I felt so close to him!

(wails) Okay, okay, now just relax.

Take deep breaths.

(sobbing and hiccupping) (sighing) Finally.

Bud?

What now?

I'm bored.

Let's talk some more.

You're so interesting!

(groans) (yawns) Hey, sleepyhead.

Thanks for loaning me Platy.

(yawning): You can have him back now.

You can hold onto him.

You'll probably want to bring him with you to the dentist.

Dentist?

Yeah, Dad's taking you this afternoon, remember?

(gasps) Dentist?

This is bad.

This is really, really bad.

Well, it's not that bad, right?

It's just a checkup.

It sounds terrifying!

I don't have teeth, so I've never been to the dentist.

But just those words: "check" and "up"... (shudders) You're not very comforting, are you?

Comfort isn't really my strong suit.

I'm better at worrying.

(sighs) Come on.

D.W. will know what to say.

Sorry, Bud.

I just don't know what to say.

Aww!

If I can't find Rapty by this afternoon, I don't what I'll do.

PLATY: And... another interesting fact about the platypus: the boys have poisonous spurs on their back feet.

I don't because I'm a toy, but, wait... what if I do?

Oh dear!

(whispering) Sorry...

But Nadine says you have to go now.

Your platypus is giving her a headache.

I know how she feels.

BUD: Since I can't find Rapty anywhere, it looks like you're going to have to come to the dentist with me.

Okay.

Let's practice.

Pretend I'm lying down in the dentist chair.

Now, what do you say to make me less nervous?

Uh...

Happy kittens wrapped in a blanket?

Huh?

It's an image that always relaxes me.

Try something else.

Oh, okay.

It won't be so bad when the dentist removes all your teeth.

Think of the money you'll save on toothpaste.

That's it!

You're useless!

I'm giving you back to Ladonna right now!

No!

Let me try again!

I can do better!

If I can't have a good imaginary friend like Rapty, then I don't want one at all!

Just the kid I was looking for.

Time to go to the dentist.

Wait!

I-I have to apologize to someone first.

(Platy wailing) I'm really sorry.

I didn't mean those things I said.

No!

You were right!

I am a big scaredy-puss.

I wish I were brave.

Like you.

What do you mean?

You're the bravest kid I know!

I am?

Sure!

When you heard about the dentist, did you hide under a bed?

Did you run away to Australia?

That's what I would've done!

Huh.

Maybe I have been a little bit braver since Rapty's been gone.

If you still want me to come with you, I will.

Just... hold my flipper if I get scared, okay?

Actually, I think I can do this alone.

But thank you, Platy.

See what I mean?

Bravest kid around!

My hero!

(grunts) You're crushing me!

Good luck!

I want to hear every terrifying detail when you get back!

Not helping.

Sorry!

I try!

How'd it go at the dentist?

Bud did great!

No cavities!

And I didn't even need Rapty with me.

Still wish he was here, though.

I'd like to tell him how brave I was.

You found him!!

Hey, what are big sisters for?

Guess I can have Platy back now, huh?

Totally.

But first, I promised to tell him about the dentist.

He's probably been worried sick.

Then the dentist put this goo in my mouth that tasted like bubble gum.

It was kind of good.

Oh, I'm afraid of gum.

What if it gets stuck in my hair?

And then she put my picture on the "no cavities" wall of fame.

I got to pick out a sticker and a toothbrush!

Nice color.

Since Rapty and I already have toothbrushes, I'm giving this to you.

For me?

I-I don't know what to say!

I know you don't have teeth, but I thought you could use it as a beak scrubber.

This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me!

Oh no, here come the waterworks!

(sobs) Platy's a little intense, huh?

You have no idea!

I missed you a lot.

Never get lost again, okay?

I'll try not to.

I'm still dizzy from the spin cycle in the dryer.

Goodnight, Rapty.

'Night, Bud.

(zap) Aww... Good to see them back together again, huh, Platy?

Yeah, and thank goodness I'm back with you.

That little brother of yours is very needy.

And now a word from us kids.

My name is Samira, and this is my third-grade class.

Bud was nervous to go to the dentist, and he needed his imaginary friend to help him out.

Today, we're having imaginary friends too.

An imaginary friend is a person who pops out and helps you.

My imaginary friend is Violeta.

She sometimes pops out of nowhere.

STUDENT: Each one of us had a problem, and we got a kid to act like our imaginary friend.

I'm nervous for my dance recital.

Then why don't you start practicing instead of worrying so much?

Yeah, that would help a lot!

I'm afraid to go to a new country.

You will love it!

You will learn new things there.

Like what?

Like, "H ola!

¿Cómo estás?"

¡Adiós!

My imaginary friend is a monster.

STUDENT: If you're scared of something, an imaginary friend can help you feel better.

This book is too scary for me!

What if a monster comes to life?

(gasps) Don't worry, everything will be okay.

It's just a book.

Just take a deep breath.

Thanks, that really helped a lot.

My imaginary friend is Dr. Francis.

You called?

I don't want to get a shot at the doctor's.

It's okay, it's only going to hurt for a minute, but it's going to help a lot, and I'll be there the whole time.

Ah, that's good.

An imaginary friend can help you when you're anxious.

I'm scared to go to my first day at a new school.

You'll make new friends, and you can see your old friends after school and on weekends.

Okay, good advice!

I don't like trying new foods.

Trying new foods is good for you!

Why don't we cook together?

How about Brussels sprouts?

(groans) If you're scared of something, an imaginary friend could help you feel better.

And now back to Arthur!

D.W.: An d then, Princess Perky jumped from the tower... And used her magic tiara to call a unicorn... And they flew right into the arms of the prince!

It was...

BOTH: Fun-believable!

That's what Princess Perky always says.

Here, we got you a tiara.

D.W.: Hey, you look just like Princess Perky.

No, she looks like Princess Proper.

You look like Princess Perky.

I'm Princess Peppy.

(blows whistle) Okay, kids, gather 'round.

I'm your substitute basketball coach for today.

Prepare to learn some awesome new moves.

Ooh, a substitute!

Let's show her our moves!

Oh... Can't wait to play, huh?

How 'bout a little game of two-on-one?

They're going to run rings around her!

I can't watch!

(students gasp) (awed murmurs) (twins grunt) (cheering) Now, she's fun-believable!

Nice effort, guys.

Okay, now that that's over, let's learn how to dribble.

Oh, but one rule before we start: no tiaras!

(gasps) Ugh, I can't stand that princess stuff.

The Princess Problem.

D.W.: At first, I didn't understand.

How could anyone not like princesses?

But when you said you'd never seen Princess Perky, I got it.

Prepare to be amazed!

Or to have a very nice nap.

Don't you have somewhere else to be?

I'm good.

Go ahead, D.W. Show me what I've been missing.

This is Princess Perky and the Tower of Trolls.

One of my favorites.

(sighs) Give us your magic tiara, Princess Perky... or else!

Never, trolls!

I need my abra-tiara to rule my kingdom, protect all the little animals in it, and keep my hair just so.

Then enjoy the view... forever!

(troll's voice echoes) (door slams) ♪ Is it a curse?

♪ ♪ Is it bad luck?

♪ ♪ This perky princess keeps getting stuck ♪ ♪ Captured by villains ♪ ♪ Who want my tiara ♪ ♪ With powers ♪ Hey, wait!

You're a magical crown!

♪ I'll make a rainbow so I can slide down ♪ ♪ So maybe one day I will learn to steer clear of towers ♪ ♪ Steer clear of towers ♪ Now do you see, Lydia?

(snoring) Arthur, something's wrong with your friend.

(snoring) Everyone, wake up!

Huh?

Gah!

You both slept through the greatest movie of all time!

I'm sorry, D.W., but Princess Perky is just not my cup of tea.

How about Princess Peppy?

Or Princess Proper?

Or Princess Penguin?

And that's just the Ps!

The truth is I've just never seen a princess like me.

Have you seen Princess Prancia, the Centaur?

She has red hair like yours.

Yes, princesses have red hair.

I know that.

I'm talking about this.

Your wheelchair?

I've never seen one movie princess who's in a wheelchair.

Or blind, or deaf, or-or disabled in any way!

That's true.

Neither have I.

But... No offense, but I'll go to a princess movie when one of them looks like me.

But there has to be a princess in a wheelchair.

There's a princess for everyone.

Look, the doll says so!

(recorded doll voice): There's a princess for everyone!

Fun-believable!

EMILY: Of course there's a princess for everyone.

Did you tell her about Princess Prancia's red hair?

Yes, but she wants to see one who's in a wheelchair.

That doesn't sound very princessy, but I'll check my trunk.

Princess Perky bubble bath, Princess Proper magic hand mirror... Ah, here it is!

The collector's edition lunch box.

It features all the princesses in the Princess Platoon.

Lydia was right.

There's not one in a wheelchair.

Or even on crutches.

Well, it makes sense.

How could a princess escape from one of those towers if she can't walk?

Maybe she could make a rainbow ramp with her magic tiara?

Yeah, but... Look, that's just not how it works.

Princesses are perfect.

That's what makes them princesses!

Get it?

Not really.

Oh look!

My old Princess Perky costume!

I bet it would fit you.

You could wear it to my tea party this Saturday!

You're having a tea party?

Since when?

Since right now!

It'll be a princess- themed tea party.

You'll come, right?

Sure!

Yay!

Oh, wait!

It needs the final touch.

(sighs) You really do look just like Princess Perky!

Abra-tiara...

I summon a unicorn!

(basketball bouncing) Hey Lydia!

Nice crown.

Oh, this?

It's... uh, nothing.

Oh, by the way, you were right.

I checked with Emily and there aren't any princesses who are in wheelchairs, or anything like that.

Actually, that's why I came over.

I was at the library the other day and look what I found.

A princess with an eye-patch?

She's Doña Ana.

She was a real princess in Spain.

And she was half-blind.

I've never seen one of her movies.

Because she doesn't have one.

You want me to read a little of this to you?

"When Doña Ana was a young girl, she lost her eye in a sword-fighting duel."

And then, she tried to overthrow the bad king.

And she hid out for years disguised as a nun!

I don't know.

She doesn't seem very... princessy.

Yeah, but she really was one.

See, it's all in this book.

Well, you can't believe everything you see in a book.

I think I might come to the tea party as Doña Ana.

What?

You can't!

This Doña Ana person isn't part of the Princess Platoon!

And she doesn't belong at my party!

Emily, what are you saying?

I'm saying come to my party as Princess Perky, or don't come at all!

Well, maybe I don't even want to come to your crummy party!

(D.W. grunting) (grunting) Tug all you want!

You're not getting this Doña Ana book!

D.W.: Princess Perky!

Thank goodness.

Help me!

How quaint.

You remember my name, huh?

Hey, what are you doing?

Checking out the competition.

So... after all these years, you want to replace me, hmm?

I just thought you'd like a new friend in your princess platoon.

Sorry, no can do.

Why not?

Don't you see?

Being a princess is a wish come true.

And who would wish to be like her?

I'll tell you who would.

Me!

Because she and Lydia are way more than peppy, perky, or proper.

They've got guts.

Now give me my book back!

No!

(gasps) You need to call Lydia for me.

We've got a party to crash.

EMILY: Uh... Oh... (gasps) Timmy, Tommy, stop rocking!

You're supposed to be trolls standing guard!

Standing guard is boring.

BUD: Why do I have to be a prince?

Can't I be a space cowboy instead?

EMILY: No!

This is a princess party.

I'm Princess Peppy and she's Princess Perky and we're imprisoned in the tower!

Princess Perky uses her abra-tiara I use my wish wand, and we leap out of this window and... (grunts) ...we slide down the... (grunts) ...down the... Uh-oh...

I'm stuck.

I'm stuck!

Oh look, Princess Prophecia!

A party!

Let's show them what it really means to be "fun-believable"!

EMILY: Help!

Help!

I think she's outgrown her bouncy castle.

Hey Timmy, maybe we can bounce her out.

Ah!

Make it stop!

What should we do?

What would a princess do?

Attack those trolls!

A pirate princess!

Oof!

Ahh!

LYDIA: Doña Ana!

Quick, give me one end of your scarf!

Now give the other end to Princess Yucky!

EMILY: It's Perky!

Hold tight, m'lady!

And I'm Prophecia... princess of the future.

(all struggling) Oh!

Thank you!

Thank you both!

How can I ever repay you?

Is it done yet?

Almost... Doña Ana and Prophecia are now officially members of the Princess Platoon.

At least according to me.

We're on a lunch box!

Not bad for a day's work.

I know.

Now I can't wait for the movie!

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