Original subtitles

[theme music]

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

Simone, nice shoes there.

Forget it, Dennis, I'm not giving you any more money.

It's not for me, Simone.

I was watching the telethon a couple of months ago

and now they're buggin' me for my pledge.

I owe nine dollars and it's for Jerry's kids.

Jerry's kids?

Nine dollars buys a kid a trip to the circus.

Oh, o-okay.

Um, here, I've only got three dollars.

I-I'm sorry. Can I give you the rest tomorrow?

[sighs] Yeah, I guess.

Hey, Arvid. Arvid!

Arvid!

- What.. Whoa. - Come here.

I need to borrow six bucks.

Dennis, you borrowed two dollars from me last week.

An-and you borrowed a dollar yesterday for lunch, remember?

- Yeah. - That's three dollars.

So, that leaves three you owe me?

[chuckles]

- All I have is two. - Okay.

You owe me a dollar, but I want it

no later than tomorrow, do you understand?

Well, at least when you take my lunch money

you don't break my glasses.

That's right, buddy.

Um..

Maria!

Don't give him any money, Maria.

The best thing to do with panhandlers

is to give them your usable discards.

How would you like to live to see puberty?

How would you like to pay me back my money, you vulture?

[indistinct chatter]

Hey! Hey! Hey! Come on, guys.

Now, you know I wouldn't be hittin' you up for money

if it wasn't for somethin' really, really important.

Oh, yeah, like what, Dennis?

- Well-- - So, Dennis.

You get your new speakers yet?

[indistinct chatter]

- Come on, now. - I'm impressed.

It's like a-a re-enactment of the bank panic in 1933.

Dennis owes us all money.

Oh, it's just a run on Dennis, huh?

You get a weekly allowance, right?

I mean, what happens to it?

Well, I usually get it on Monday

and that usually last me till Monday afternoon.

And then I have to supplement it

with things I do around the house.

So what's different about this week?

My dad found out what I was doin' around the house.

Yeah?

I was goin' through his pants pockets, okay?

Was he wearing them at the time?

I thought he was asleep.

He looks so peaceful there in the recliner lounger.

And-and-and he goes berserk. Oh, and get this.

He accuses me, his own son, of stealing.

(all) Oh!

Guy's got a lot of nerve.

So, you see why I'm so desperate, guys.

He's cut off my allowance until I'm well into social security.

Well, guess you'll have to get a job.

[indistinct chattering]

- 'Get a job.' - A job?

Yeah. Working for money.

You know, Dennis, you see thousands of people

rushing around Manhattan every day.

You think they're going to class?

Working for money, huh?

It's novel.

Well, well, here, Dennis, this looks perfect.

Do you ride a bicycle?

- Next. - Uh.

Hey, how about construction work?

Oh, yeah, that's good.

Me luggin' two by fours across

a steel girder 90 storeys above the street.

What's wrong with this picture?

Well, Dennis, you gotta find something.

Let me take a look.

Okay, now, here's somethin'. "Computer programmer needed."

Oh, and look at this. "Databank manager."

These jobs are perfect for me, Arvid.

I can operate the bank's Pascal and CRT systems.

And this "Exp nec," I can wing that.

I-I think that means experience necessary.

Oh. Well, I have experience.

What about the time I hacked into Dr. Samuel's computer

and I made him an illegal alien?

That's right. Well, hey, maybe it's worth a phone call.

This is gonna be great.

I'll get a nice cushy job.

I can use Mr. Moore as a reference.

I'll make big bucks and I'll never have to borrow

any money from anybody anymore.

- Great. - Oh.

Uh, give me a couple of quarters, will you?

Sure.

[instrumental music]

- Mornin', Tony. - Hey, Charlie.

- Uh, I'll be right with you. - Okay.

Try the new breakfast special. It's goat cheese.

I think I'll start the morning with some coffee.

I'll be right back.

I'll get it myself if that's okay.

Terrific, I'm a little short-handed today.

- Alright. - Where is Dmitri?

Uh, he's goin' upstate.

Attica?

No, Syracuse. He's in college now.

Oh, it's great. Oh.

I don't know how great it is, I'm waitin' on tables here.

You know, it so happens that I got a student

who is looking for a job.

Oh, yeah? What, uh, one of them geniuses?

Well, he's a bright kid.

Hard working?

He's very smart.

Good with people?

This kid is sharp, Ton.

He's a loser, right?

Deep down, I think he's a good kid.

But he needs to work, you know?

Yeah. Hey.

For you, Charlie, we'll give him a shot, huh?

- Alright. - Put it here, pal.

Thank you.

And Andrew Jackson's administration

was the last one not to leave this country in debt.

Then again, how much can an MX musket have cost?

[bell ringing]

Well, that and other burning issues

we'll address tomorrow.

Uh, Dennis, I need to speak to you.

See y'all.

Yeah, Mr. Moore?

Dennis, I, uh, I spoke some of the people

you applied to for a job.

Oh, great, what'd you say?

Well, I told them that you were creative

resourceful and, and very intelligent.

And what did they say?

Is he a high school graduate?

- So you lied, right? - Wrong.

Okay, you told them I was still in high school.

- What'd they say then? - "Goodbye."

That is so unfair, Mr. Moore.

I can do those jobs.

Why do you have to be a high school graduate

to program the MBS, JCL and BCC7 systems?

Haven't the slightest idea.

- Exactly. - Look, Dennis.

Uh, why should they hire you?

You have no work experience.

I, I think you're gonna have to set your sights

a little lower.

You mean, something like the "O giver 286?"

Yeah, a little lower.

Data processing?

What could possibly be lower than data processing?

You know the little Greek coffee shop

couple of blocks down, Casa Falafel?

You mean that dump that used to be Casa Burrito?

It ain't a dump. A friend of mine owns it.

- Sorry. - 'Okay.'

It so happens he could only afford

to change half of the sign.

The food is not bad, if you skip the soup.

And he tells me he's looking for a waiter.

A waiter?

You mean, as in someone who serves food

to another person?

Please, Mr. Moore, I'm a math major.

Okay, add this up.

It's four dollars an hour

three hours a day

five days a week, plus weekends

plus tips.

[instrumental music]

Enjoy your lunch.

Hey! Slim!

Yo!

Though I might not be the gala big gourmet over here

but I do know that pastrami's not suppose to be brown.

I am a waiter, not a food colorist.

Hey, wise guy, here, you eat it.

Why don't you..

Why don't you let me get you another sandwich, sir?

My fault.

Whoa, where you goin', bub?

I ordered roast beef well done.

Look at this. It's bright red!

Uh, hold on.

Alright, I-I think I figured this out.

Here, here, here. It's for you.

Bon appetit.

Yo, Dennis, malted.

Oh, thanks, Mr. Papas.

I tell you, this is gonna hit the spot.

Not for you. Him!

- I'm sorry. - What're you doing?

- But I'm so-- - I'm sorry. Pull it.

Bring it over here. I'll get you another one.

I heard you, you said, "Dennis, malted."

How many times do I gotta tell ya?

Are you tryin' to ruin my business here..

[indistinct chatter]

Yeah, do something good for a change.

Get out of here, will you?

[chuckles] Janice.

Do we have a lunch date?

It's funny, all through school today

I've have this strange craving for goat cheese.

Yeah, well, we're out of goat cheese.

Sorry, sir, your baloney's rancid.

- I'll get you another one. - That's okay.

'Cause now I have a strange craving for revenge.

Janice, what're you do.. Janice, hang up that phone!

Come on, Janice, please, don't tell anybody. Come on.

- I want my money. - You'll have it.

- I want it now. - I don't..

I don't get paid until Friday.

What about tips?

Are you crazy? You've seen me work.

Dennis!

Hello, Arvid.

- Guess what. - God!

There's this fabulous restaurant that you must try.

[instrumental music]

Yo, gumby, there's crud on my fork.

I love this.

Somethin' wrong with your milkshake, Arv?

Yeah, I ordered a tuna sandwich.

So, make him take it back.

This will be fun. Oh, waiter?

- What? - No, no-no, it's okay.

I'll just-I'll just drink it. It's alright.

It's an understandable mistake.

I'll just have this, even though I have a lactose intolerance.

Boy, I sure hope I don't swell up.

Well, well, well.

After all the insults, after all the put-downs

after all the practical jokes

finally my chance is here.

Dennis, clean off this table.

Ahem, you heard the lady.

Clean off the table. And where's your hat?

Oh, Dennis?

You missed a spot.

Alright, that's it.

Go ahead, take your best cheap shot.

Just remember, he who laughs last

laughs loudest.

[laughing]

I-it's true, the paper hat and everything.

This is a nightmare.

Hey! What are you lookin' at, huh?

Yeah, yeah, it's me, okay? Oh, sure, go ahead.

Press your greasy noses up against the window.

It's not like you have to clean it.

Hey, buddy, new invention.

It's called a coffee pot.

[indistinct chatter]

Hang on.

Waiting on us must be so embarrassing for him.

- Uh-huh. - I'm gonna leave him a big tip.

I think we should see how the service is first.

Hey, we don't want to over tip him.

We don't want him to think that we're taking pity on him.

Maybe you're right.

I think I'll just leave him a thank you note.

- Hi. Hello. Thanks. - Enjoy.

- Enjoy. - Thank you.

- Enjoy. - Thanks, Tony.

- Yeah. - Thanks, Tony.

Hey, no, thank you.

And I just want you to know that, uh

all of Dennis's friends are always welcome here.

And, uh, I'll give you student discount.

[indistinct chattering]

Hey, did you hear that, Dennis?

We're gonna make this place our regular hangout.

[indistinct chatter]

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

[bell ringing]

Well, hi, Dennis. How's the new job?

How's the new job?

Janice made me cut off her crusts.

Does that pretty well sum it up?

It could be worse.

Like what? Camping?

They're humiliatin' me, Mr. Moore.

Me, Dennis Blunden!

Is this the same Dennis Blunden that crazy glued

the entire class to their seats?

And that gives them the right to go orderin' me around?

Dennis, you're a waiter.

Oh, fine, Mr. Moore, take their side.

Look, there's nothing wrong with being a waiter.

It is an honest, respectable job.

It's an honest, respectable hard job.

You know, after you go home at night

I gotta stay and fill up salt and pepper shakers

and ketchup dispensers.

And do you know how hard it is getting the napkins

into those little holders?

And if my checks don't add up, I'm responsible.

I gotta pay for it out of my own pocket.

My first day's work cost me seven dollars.

The highlight of my day was a thank you note

from Simone!

Stop whining, Dennis, huh?

I mean, you are an able bodied

intelligent, educated young man.

Now, surely you can grasp

the notion of earning some money

and feeling some self-respect.

- Respect? - Yeah.

I'm wearing a paper hat.

Dennis, the first week is always the hardest.

It'll get better, believe me.

You know, you just have to trust me on this.

- I guess you're right. - Yeah.

(Eric) 'Finally, my fries are here.'

[all cheering]

[telephone ringing]

Fillmore High, Ms. Meara.

Yes, yes, just a moment. Charlie?

Dennis Blunden's father.

Morning, Mr. Blunden.

Yeah.

Money for you, Darlene.

Hello, little Janice.

Here is all the money that I owe ya.

Thanks, Dennis, and I'm sorry

I had to, uh, lean on you the other day.

Mr. Moore, here is all the money

I ever borrowed from you, paid back in full.

Thank you, Dennis.

I thought you didn't get paid till Friday.

Oh, I don't, my dad gave me this.

- He did? - Yeah.

Where else would I get this kind of money?

That's a good question.

So, you don't have to be real smart..

...to figure that we'll talk about this tomorrow.

Okay.

Dennis, I wanna talk to you now.

And, Sara, I'm still waiting for your paper

on the growth of the national debt.

Well, I guess I owe you one.

[chuckles]

Yeah, tomorrow, six pages.

I thought you said five pages.

- Interest. - Oh.

[sighs]

Well, I guess, your dad must've had

quite a change of heart.

Oh, oh, yeah, yeah, he felt really bad

about my having to work, so he gave me a 100 bucks.

Said, "Go out, kid, buy yourself somethin' nice."

But don't worry, Mr. Moore, just the necessities.

Some computer softwares, a couple of video tapes

and I have had my eye on this little piece of plastic vomit.

Your father called the school this morning, Dennis

I spoke with him.

- Oh, yeah? - Yeah.

Wanted to make sure that you're not mooching money

from your classmates.

Said he wasn't gonna give you any more.

And, uh, he's pretty disgusted

with your attitude toward your job.

Well, like you say, he must've really had a change of heart.

Mood swings like that..

...he should be medicated, huh?

Okay, I didn't get the money from my father.

I borrowed it from Mr. Papas.

Uh-huh. So, uh, you're gonna work off the debt.

Well, not exactly.

See, now that I've paid everybody back

and since I don't really need to work

I-I thought that..

...at this point I could, uh, retire.

Let me get this straight, you borrowed money from this man

so you could walk out on him.

No, no, it sounds bad when you put it that way.

Well, I'll put it another way. That is reprehensible.

Look, the guy goes out on a limb for you.

He gives you a helping hand

you leave him high and dry.

Huh? I vouched for you. He trusts me.

Now, where does this leave me?

You don't understand, Mr. Moore.

I can't work there. It's humiliating. I hate it!

Why should I have to go in there day after day

and do something I don't like?

Wha.. Do you think that Papas

likes running this restaurant all by himself?

You think he likes loaning somebody a 100 bucks

discovering he's not gonna be paid back?

I didn't say I wasn't gonna pay him back.

Next month is my birthday.

And every year, Grandma Blunden sends me a check.

So I cash it, I pay Mr. Papas back.

Problem solved.

Now, what're we getting so excited about?

I mean, what's a $100?

I'll tell you what it is to a man like Papas.

He probably has to work a month, Dennis

to save that much money.

I promise you, I will pay Mr. Papas back.

But I am not gonna work there.

You just don't get it, do you?

[instrumental music]

Hey, Tony, you're gonna bring me a menu over here

or you just want me to take a guess?

Yeah, I'm coming, I'm coming.

- 'Yo, Danny!' - Hey, Danny.

Hey, Danny, Eddie over here wants the Dolphins

in three points. What do you think?

I never bet on fish, Paulie.

That's very funny.

Mr. Papas, could we talk? I-I mean, really talk?

Yeah, something wrong?

Uh, this is hard to say

but I've got these personal problems and, and--

You need more money? Go take it out of the cash register.

I trust ya. Meanwhile, get Louis coffee.

Louis, could you wait for the coffee?

No, Mr. Papas, I don't wanna borrow anymore of your money.

I-I feel bad enough about

borrowin' the $100 in the first place.

And-and I'm gonna get that back to you. I promise.

Hey, Dennis, you're a nice kid. You pay me back when you can.

Hey, is anybody waitin' tables here or what?

Dennis, we got customers.

Hey, you're workin' here or not?

That's what I wanna talk to you about, Mr. Papas.

I gotta quit.

Quit? Ah, you mean now?

Well, yeah.

I-it's a great job and you're a great boss.

But I-I'm in school a-and I got homework..

Hey, Danny, come on, I've been sitting here

so long, I'm losing weight.

Anthony, be a little fair, please.

Listen, I..

I'm really sorry to see you go.

- What about the chow? - Nice food, huh? Let's go.

Hey, everybody, shut up, will you?

You know what, Mr. Papas, you'll find a replacement real--

Oh, Dennis, I got no time to talk now.

Good luck. I-I'll get your sandwich in a minute.

Hey, come on, Tony, I'm dyin' here.

Why don't you go get some sushi?

- Oh, nice move. - Encore. Encore.

Lemme give you a hand, Mr. Papas.

I'll have your sandwich in a minute, Eddie.

There you go, Eddie. Tuna on rye, no mustard.

Just like my governess used to make.

- Hi. - Hi.

- Get you a menu? - Yeah, sure.

What're you doin' here?

About to ask you the same thing.

- I'm just working. - Yeah, I can see that.

- For how long? - I don't know.

As long as it takes or until Mr. Papas

can find a replacement.

And until I work off the money that I owe him.

I had to do it.

No, you didn't.

Thanks, Mr. Moore.

What'll it be?

Uh, I think I'm gonna go with the meatloaf.

Outstanding.

And as an appetizer may I suggest

the stuffed grape leaves?

Sure, why not?

And for dessert, sir..

Dennis, I can't eat all this stuff.

Now, what're you trying to do to me?

I'm trying to pad my tip.

I owe the man a 100 bucks.

Okay, uh, some baklava.

Make it a double order.

Split it with you.

[instrumental music]

Hey, everybody. guess what I got.

- Oh, no way. - Oh, no.

No, no, no, it's not plastic vomit this time.

It's my first paycheck.

- 'Oh, that's good.' - Yeah, so?

What do you mean, "Yeah, so?" This is mine.

I worked two long hard weeks for this money.

So how much did you make?

Three dollars and fourteen cents.

That's after taxes, I guess.

And after I paid back Mr. Papas.

May not be much, but it's my

three dollars and fourteen cents.

Feels a lot different when you earned it, rather than just

having it handed it to you, doesn't it?

[instrumental music]

[theme music]