"The Great Hair Argument" is an episode of Ramona.
Summary[]
Mrs. Quimby is cutting Ramona's hair, but she is being squirmy despite her best efforts. Eventually, the haircut is finished, but when it is Beezus's turn, she sheepishly reveals that she dislikes the way Mrs. Quimby cuts hair because she wants a change and to look more fashionable for a party with a girl named Emily. Mrs. Quimby wonders why Beezus is being so grumpy and wonders if there will be boys at the party, but Beezus refuses to answer. Mrs. Quimby explains that the family needs to "scrimp and pinch" (i.e. save money) because a baby is coming, and both she and Beezus admit that they wish they didn't have to be so "sensible" all the time.
At school, Howie offers a new game for Ramona involving playing Frankenstein, but they can't agree on who should be the doctor and who should be the monster. Then, two boys approach Ramona and Howie, eager to know about the "fight" between Mrs. Quimby and Beezus, but Ramona tells them that it is better described with the terms "argument" or "difference of opinions" than "fight".
Later, Ramona and Mrs. Quimby have a conversation about hair growth, and then Mrs. Quimby and Beezus do the dishes while Ramona reads Rapunzel in bed. Beezus, still doing the dishes, reveals that some students are learning to cut hair for cheaper than a barber, so she suggests getting her hair cut by them at the mall. Ramona imagines herself as Ramona and Yard Ape as the Prince.
Mrs. Quimby finally agrees to the haircut, so Mrs. Quimby takes the girls the next day (with Ramona disliking having to tag along and sit in the back). She tells them to watch for signs, but Mrs. Quimby drives the wrong way due to a misunderstanding of the word "right". Ramona worries that she will be carsick, but she isn't.
Finally, Mrs. Quimby and the girls reach the mall, and Beezus asks for a student named Donna to cut her hair, but the man in charge reveals that Donna graduated and so Beezus's hair must be cut by a man named Lee. Ramona is bored waiting, so the salon man makes up a rule that children under nine get their hair styled for free.
A woman gives Ramona a fancy hairdo, and Beezus is given a beehive, which nobody likes because they think it makes her look like an old woman. Back at home, Mrs. Quimby and Aunt Bea wash out Beezus's hair and restyle it, making her happy again. Beezus thanks Aunt Bea and leaves for the party, then Howie comes over to play but dislikes Ramona's new hairdo.
Differences from Book[]
- The book was set before Mrs. Quimby's pregnancy, but here, it is set during it.
- Ramona's Rapunzel daydream did not happen in the book.
- In the book, Ramona actually did feel nauseous, but here, she just worried that she would.
- The stylist is named Lester in the book, but Lee here.
- In the book, children under twelve had their hair cut for cheaper as an official rule of the salon. Here, the proprietor made up the rule on the fly to keep Ramona engaged, had nine as the age limit, and made the cut completely free of charge.
- Beezus's reason for disliking her hairdo in the book was because it looked like "a cheap wig" and that the hairspray was excessive, but here it was because she thought it made her look old. In the book, she also cries about the hairdo, while here, she just sulks.