Original subtitles

- Hi Mr. Wilson.

Would you like me to play something for you

on my trumpet?

- No I wouldn't, Dennis.

I'm busy.

Go play for somebody else.

- OK.

I'll play for you then, Mrs. Wilson.

- Well, I don't know dear.

- Wait til you hear this song.

I made it up myself.

- That's lovely dear.

Have some candy.

It's nice chewy taffy.

- Gee thanks, Mrs. Wilson.

Tommy's outside.

I'll take him some too.

- Here you are, Tommy.

- Oh boy.

Swell. - See?

I told ya.

Every time I play my horn, somebody

gives me something to put in my mouth.

[theme music]

- All right, Dennis.

Give her all you got now.

Put her in here.

- OK.

Here she comes.

- This time, Fred, how about swinging at a real one and I'll

shag it for ya.

- No, you might run out in the street and get hit by a car

and then I'd have you on my conscience.

I'll pitch a couple.

- Make it a speed ball, Fred.

- OK.

[grunting]

- OK, Dennis?

- Boy, that was so fast, I didn't even see it.

Pitch it to me again.

- I got a better idea.

I'll show you how to throw one in from left field.

You grab it tight, see?

And you lean way back and then you let it go.

Now you practice.

Now grab it tight, lean way back, now let her go.

- Jeepers.

[ball smacking wall]

- You better build this barbecue on the other side on the yard.

- It wouldn't do any good.

I'm not safe from those kids in my own bathtub.

No, this is the place to put it.

Just tear this down.

Put the barbecue right here.

DENNIS (OFFSCREEN): Hey, Mr. Wilson!

Hey, Mr. Wilson!

Did my ball fall in your yard?

- Well, I don't think it's going to cost you so much.

- Oh good.

- Considering the pleasure you're going to get out of it.

- How much?

DENNIS (OFFSCREEN): Thanks, Mr. Wilson!

Thanks a lot for throwing my ball back, Mr. Wilson.

- All right, Dennis, run along and play.

How much?

- Well, it won't take long to get that out of there.

Let's see.

About 1,500 brick.

Two men, a couple of days.

Oh, I'd say roughly $282.

- $282?

- You think it over, Mr. Wilson.

When you make up your mind, let us know.

- Thank you for your time and trouble, Mr. Erickson.

- I'm glad to have met you, Mr. Erickson.

- $282 indeed!

- Oh hi, Mrs. Wilson.

- Hello, Dennis.

- Think he's got himself a sucker.

Why, for that kind of money, I could

build that barbecue myself.

- Yourself?

- Boy, that's a swell idea, Mr. Wilson.

I'll bet you could build the best

barbecue in the whole world.

- Well, I don't know why I can't.

- Oh, dear.

- Oh hello.

Ace High Brick and Cement?

This is George Wilson at 625 Elm Street.

Now I want to build a barbecue, eight feet long,

about four feet wide, 36 inches high, with a four foot chimney.

Now how much will the bricks cost me?

Delivered?

Hmm?

No, they don't have to be stacked.

Yes, I'll wait.

- George, are you sure?

- Just a minute, Martha.

Oh, yes.

$126.25.

Oh, well can you deliver them this afternoon?

Thank you very much.

- I hope you know what you're doing dear.

- Well of course, Martha, my dear.

Where else could I make that kind

of money for just a couple days work?

Oh, I got to get my tools.

- Oh, I'll get them for ya.

- Never mind, Dennis.

I'll get them.

Now I'm going to tear down this grape arbor.

- Dennis!

Leave that alone.

Oh well, here, if you really want to help me.

Take this nail and put it in the trash barrel for me

way over by the garage.

- Hey, Mr. Wilson!

Come quick!

- Uh?

What's the matter, Dennis? - Look!

- (LAUGHING) Why, it's like a chelonian.

And a very fine specimen indeed.

- It's a what?

- A chelonian.

- It sure looks like a turtle to me.

- That's the popular name for it.

- Do you think it belongs to anybody?

- No.

No, I'd say he's been living around here for quite some time

now.

We probably disturbed his little home

when we pulled out this grape arbor.

- Jeepers turtle.

We didn't mean to spoil your house.

What do you think I ought to call him?

- Well how about Myrtle?

Myrtle the Turtle.

- That's a girl's name.

And after what happened to my rabbit,

I don't think my dad would let me

have another pet with a girl's name.

- Well I don't think you have to worry about that, Dennis.

Turtles lay eggs.

- I better not take any chances.

I'm going to call him Jimmy.

- George?

- Oh yes, dear.

- The truck is here with your bricks.

- Good. Good.

I'll be right in to make them out a check.

- Oh boy.

Come on, Jimmy, let's go see the truck.

- Oh Dennis.

Tell them to leave it right there.

I'll be right out.

- OK, Mr. Wilson.

- Is this the Wilson driveway, kid?

- It sure is.

And Mr. Wilson told me to tell you to leave it right here.

- Are you sure?

- That's what he said. - OK Joe.

He wants us to leave them here.

- Well they were certainly prompt Martha.

Now that's the kind of service the public appreciates.

- Oh boy!

- Tell Mr. Wilson the office said to send him the bill.

- Hey! Hey!

Wait a minute!

Hey!

Oh, wait a minute!

Oh for Pete's sake.

Now how am I going to get my car out of the garage?

Dennis, why did you let them leave it here?

- Jeepers, Mr. Wilson.

I just told them what you said.

To leave it right here.

- Oh, I meant the truck, not the bricks.

Oh great Scot.

Now I've got to move all these bricks.

- You got a wheelbarrow, Mr. Wilson?

Just tell me where you want them and I'd

be glad to move them for you. - Me too.

- Oh now, that's very nice of you, Fred.

Yes.

The wheelbarrow's in my tool shed.

- I'll get my wagon.

Here, you can hold Jimmy.

- I will not.

- I want to help too.

- Oh Dennis, take that turtle of yours and go home.

Now home!

- I don't mind helping you Mr. Wilson.

I can use a few extra bucks.

- Oh?

- Well I only charge $1 an hour.

- Well I can't leave that pile of bricks there overnight.

All right, Freddy, but remember now.

I expect an hour's work for an hour's pay.

- Now Dennis may have had his feelings hurt, Mitchell.

I just wanted to explain I was merely

looking out for his safety.

- I understand perfectly, Mr. Wilson.

I guess Dennis is used to your yelling at him.

I mean everybody yells at Dennis.

I do it myself sometimes.

- Jeepers, Mr. Wilson.

I'm not mad at you.

- I'm glad to hear it Dennis.

- So as soon as I get home from school tomorrow,

I'll be over to help you.

- That's very kind of you Dennis but you needn't hurry.

I've already hired Fred Baines to help me.

Well he needs the money worse than you do.

- I'm not going to charge you Mr. Wilson.

- Well I wouldn't think of having anybody work for me

for nothing Dennis.

- Well is it OK if I take the money?

- Well you have work to do here at home, son.

- That won't take me very long Dad.

And good old Mr. Wilson needs all the help he can get.

- I'd appreciate it very much Mitchell if you'd

let Dennis work for me an hour or so in the afternoon.

- You would?

- It would be worth $0.10 an hour for me to have someone I could

trust walk up and down the sidewalk to see that none

of the other children came anywhere near my backyard.

- You mean like a guard?

Oh boy.

That'd be swell!

Can I Dad?

Oh boy.

I've got a job!

And I'm even going to get paid!

- How many times do I have to tell you.

You don't live at Mr. Wilson's anymore.

Understand?

- Hi Dennis.

What you playing?

- I'm not playing anything.

I'm a guard.

And good old Mr. Wilson is paying me $0.10 to keep you

little kids out. Halt!

You goes there?

- Fred Baines.

- What you got there?

- My record player.

- You sure it isn't a bomb?

- Take a look for yourself.

- Yeah, it's a record player, all right.

OK, Mr. Baines, you can go in. - Thanks.

- Hi Mr. Wilson.

- Oh hello there Fred.

Say, I'm glad to see you.

- What do you want me to do?

- Well it isn't difficult.

You just have to work fast so that the cement doesn't

dry on you.

- Well I've laid brick for my father before.

- Oh good.

Good.

Now you just want to make sure that the bricks are

nice and straight.

There, you get the idea.

Put the mortar on nice and even.

That's it.

Fine.

All right, now try it a little faster, Fred.

You know, there's nothing like laying brick

at a good, fast clip to build up the muscles in your pitching

arm. - Oh yeah?

- That's right.

A little faster now.

There, that's the idea.

Yeah.

Now you're getting the idea.

That's it.

Well, you carry on Fred.

I could use a breather.

- George you look exhausted.

- Well I am Martha, but that barbecue's

going to be worth it.

You know nothing tastes so good as outdoor cooking.

- I know dear.

But I still wish you'd let Mr. Erickson build it.

- Oh nonsense.

Why Fred and I can have that thing up in less than a week.

Smartest thing I ever did was to hire that boy.

Oh he's a good worker.

[rock music playing]

- Great Scot!

- Oh for Pete's Sake, boy.

Turn that blasted thing off!

- Too loud for you?

- Just turn that off!

- Maybe you'd like the B side better.

Everybody knows you work better by music.

That's a psychological fact.

- Well if you have to have it on.

But well, keep it down a little, will you boy.

- OK.

- Good grief.

[rock music playing]

- Hey Fred!

Turn it up some more, will you?

I can't hear it so good anymore.

- Hi Mr Wilson, how's it going today?

- Oh hello there Fred.

Just fine.

But oh hold on there a minute boy.

I got a little something here for you.

It's a present.

- A present?

How come?

- Well it's not exactly new.

But I had some fresh batteries put in it for you.

Oh it'll work for months without recharging.

Now look I'll show you how you do this thing.

You see you just keep this right here in your pocket like that,

put this plug in your ear, turn it on there,

and you can tune it up as high as you'd like.

- Gee that's awfully nice of you but it's

no trouble spinning the platter.

- Well it is to me.

- It'll fall out when I lean over.

- Well then don't lean over, Fred.

Squat.

See squat.

Oh it's much better for the leg muscles.

- Yeah but--

- And good leg muscles are mighty important to a baseball player.

- Hey crazy.

- Not as crazy as I'd be if I had to listen to that thing

anymore.

- What'd you say, Mr. Wilson?

- I said-- oh let's get to work Fred.

Now you take over right here where I left off.

Climb over there.

Work fast enough so the cement doesn't dry on you.

That's the way.

I want to go in the house.

I've got some things I have to do.

Fred!

- Hey Fred.

Why don't you have the music on?

- Never mind that.

You know what happens to a sentry that leaves his post.

- Mr. Wilson wouldn't shoot me.

He's my friend.

Say, what's you got in your ear.

- It's a radio.

- Can I try it?

- Yeah.

- Here let me do it. - Jeepers.

Jeepers.

[music playing]

Jeepers.

Boy that sure is swell.

I'm sure glad I didn't bust it for you.

Hey!

- That's enough.

- My turtle.

Where's my turtle?

Hey Jimmy!

Where are you?

Jimmy!

Who could've gotten stuck in there.

- Martha, what would you like tomorrow night?

Barbecued ribs, sirloin steak, or shish kabob?

- Do you really think it'll be ready by then?

- Of course it will.

All we have to do is finish up the top of the chimney

and set in the grill.

- I must admit I've had some misgivings.

- Oh it's worked out perfectly, my dear.

Yes, I've got my money's worth out of Fred, Dennis out

of my hair, and I've saved $150.

- Well that's wonderful dear.

- Gee Mr. Wilson.

This is going to be just great.

- Oh Mitchell.

Well Fred helped too, you know.

- Yeah, DaVinci had his Mona Lisa and Mr. Wilson's

got his barbecue.

- Say has anybody seen my turtle?

- You better get back to your job, son.

- Your turtle?

- Yeah, he's missing again.

Hey, he went in there once.

- I'll look down here Dennis.

- Can you see him?

- Oh there he is, way over on the left.

- Here Dennis, let me.

Let me try.

- I'll get a rake. - See if I--

- Don't hurt him.

Don't hurt my turtle.

- Better get him before he crawls up inside

or we'll have to tear the front down.

- Oh no!

No!

- We may have to call the Humane Society

or somebody to the rescue. - Jeepers.

- Give me the Fire Department.

Hey Fire Department.

Come right away to 625 Elm Street.

Hurry!

- I think I see him.

A little more to the right.

- Don't hurt my turtle.

- Here Jimmy!

Here Jimmy!

- Dennis!

- Here Jimmy!

- Let me try again, Mr. Wilson.

- Oh.

- Here Jimmy!

Careful Dad.

- We'll get him son.

I'll get him

- Here Jimmy!

[sirens wailing]

[footsteps running]

- Don't worry lady.

We'll have it out in no time.

Where is it? Where's the fire?

- Fire?

Fire!

- You take upstairs.

I'll take down here.

- Help George!

Help!

The house is on fire!

- Hey! Jeepers.

- George here!

Oh George!

- My stamp collection!

Oh my goodness!

My trophies!

- Oh the lovely things.

The sweater I was knitting you for your birthday.

- Martha. Give me a hand here.

Quick!

That's it dear.

Don't lose your head dear.

Just stay calm.

Stay calm!

- Dear, I am!

- Stay calm!

Stay calm!

- Turn it off!

Turn it off!

- Oh you're pushing.

- Stop now, folks.

We couldn't find anything.

- You couldn't find anything?

Martha, you said the house was on fire.

- I didn't say it.

He did!

- Who turned in the alarm?

It's a serious offense to turn in a false alarm.

- Hey somebody listen.

Please Mr. Fireman, save Jimmy!

- Jimmy?

- Oh for Pete's sake!

- Save Jimmy.

Here's in the wall.

- Jimmy?

- Please Mr. Fireman.

Save my turtle!

- OK sonny. Don't worry.

We'll get him out.

- Any idea where he is?

- He's inside the barbecue.

I saw him way over in the corner.

- Well a turtle couldn't move more than a few inches.

- He moves faster than you think.

Jimmy's the fastest turtle in the world whole!

- Well maybe to be on the save side.

We'll knock out this portion of the barbecue right here.

- No! No!

No! Jimmy!

You come out of there.

Do you hear me?

You get out of there at once!

- George don't get so excited.

- But Martha!

- How would you all like a nice cold glass of lemonade?

It's all made.

[banging]

- Mitchell!

There's no fire! Look!

- Don't you worry, Mr. Wilson.

I'll help you build it up again.

- Oh thanks.

- Jeepers.

Thanks!

- Thank you gentlemen.

- It's all in a day's work.

- I think I'd like to go in and lie down.

- C'mon.

We better get home Dennis.

- Crazy

- Mrs. Wilson, did you happen to see where I put my radio?

- No, I didn't Fred.

Well, I guess a hardworking boy like you

can drink this all by himself.

- Thanks.

- And Fred.

Try to be as quiet as you can.

Mr. Wilson doesn't feel at all well.

- I will Mrs. Wilson.

And thanks for the lemonade.

Now I wonder where I put that.

- (SINGING) Get my fire good and hot.

- Does it really work?

- Of course it does Martha.

When George Wilson builds something, he builds it right.

Oh say, my dear.

We've got plenty of steak.

Why don't we ask the Mitchells to join

us and Fred and his folks?

- Well don't you think it'd be better

if we tried it out on ourselves first?

- Well now what could go wrong?

It won't be any work for you, honey bunch.

I'll do all the cooking.

- Well if you want to.

I'll get the phone.

- Oh just bring the phone out here dear.

I'll call them.

Now make a salad, and something for dessert

and maybe you whip up some of that cheese dip you make, huh?

- Now you hold it real tight, then

you lean way back, and let her go.

- OK, let me try it.

- Oh Martha!

Listen dear, bring me a big platter, will you?

And I need a long handled spoon and oh yes,

see if you can find the pepper grinder.

Oh, I'll need a pitcher of water too.

- Now hold it tight.

Now you lean way back.

- Like this?

- And let her go.

Hey, that was a real good one.

- Yeah, I'll try it again.

- Lean way back and let her go.

- [rock music playing]

- Great Scot!

Turn that off!

- Where is that coming from?

Turn it off!

- Why it's coming from-- Why it's coming from the barbecue!

Oww!

Oh it is impossible.

Great Scot!

- Hey!

We found Fred's radio.

Boy, we sure are lucky.

Huh, Mr. Wilson?

- Dennis stand back.

Get out of the way!

- Look!

[theme music playing]

- This has been a Screen Gems Film Production

from the Hollywood studios of Columbia Pictures.