Hey Arnold! in the Movies - Arnold and Helga Meet a FAMOUS Director

Chapter 1

Author's Note: I don't take full credit for this idea. The original concept of this story was conceived in the "6th Season Hey Arnold!" forums, under the title "Grandpa's Famous Enemy". This is merely a re-imagining of how the story could have potentially been.

Arnold and his friends were playing baseball in Gerald Field when they noticed the first van drive by. At first, they just ignored it, but when Arnold had hit a fly ball onto the other of the street, he and the other children became acutely aware that several large white fans were going down the street in a line.

"What do you reckon is going on, Arnold?" asked a befuddled Stinky.

"I don't know, Stinky," replied Arnold. "But I intend to find out."

The children postponed their baseball game and, with their curiosity getting the better of them, followed the vehicles on foot, by bike, and by any other apparatus they had to get them mobile. Eventually – and to Arnold's surprise – the vehicles had stopped right in front of Sunset Arms.

"Hey Arnold – is everything alright?" asked Gerald. "Why are all these vans stopping here?"

A final vehicle pulled in front of the boarding house – a long black limo. Out of the limo emerged a middle-aged man in sunglasses and a greying ponytail. The kids, who were all hiding in a nearby alley and scoping out the scene, watched as the man ascended the steps of the boarding house and knocked on the front door.

Sid grabbed onto Arnold as though he would tear his shirt off. "Arnold, do you KNOW who that is?"

"Not really," admitted Arnold. "Should I?"

"Is that....yeah, I definitely think it is....oh man....!" Exclaimed Harold.

"Slow down, big boy," said Gerald. "So who is that guy?"

"It's Gilbert C. Ratta – the legendary horror movie director!" said Sid, barely able to contain his excitement.

"Oh, come on – are you blind?" snapped an unimpressed Helga. "No way that's Gil Ratta – what business would he have scoping out a dump like Arnold's place? No offense, football-head."

Arnold rolled his eyes.

"Who cares WHY he's here?" said Harold. "I'm gonna see if I can get his autograph WHILE he's here!" Harold left the safety of the alley to go to the boarding house, but not before the other kids tried to restrain him.

"Don't be stupid, Harold!" said Sid. "You wanna scare the guy off?"

"Yeah, don't be a dadgum fanboy!" added Stinky.

"But Ratta's like my hero – I just gotta meet him!"

As the group was distracted with trying to subdue a zealous Harold, the door to Sunset Arms finally opened. A crowd of cats and dogs (followed by a solitary pig), filed out of the boarding house and down the street, and then Grandpa appeared at the entrance.

"Hey there, Phil! Long time no see, huh?"

"Can I help you?" asked Grandpa.

"Come on, old-timer, it hasn't been that long! Don't you remember me?"

Phil looked the newcomer up and down, then shrugged. "Sorry, can't say I have?"

The man at the door was unfazed. "Ah, you old trickster! It's me Phil – it's Gilbert!"

"Gilbert, Gilbert, no sorry that name doesn't ring a bell, but thanks for playing – have a good day!" Grandpa was about to slam the door in his face, but a foot came out of nowhere and prevented it from closing.