Original subtitles

[theme music]

HENRY MITCHELL

was your light on again? - Well.

- What's that thing?

- It's a horse head skeleton.

Johnny Morton's father found it on the desert.

[chuckle]

- Dad? - Yeah?

- How much money will the good fairy

leave me if I put a tinny little baby tooth under my pillow?

- Oh, have you got another lose one?

Let's see.

The last time, the good fairy last you $0.10.

- Boy, can you imagine what she'll leave me tonight

when she finds this big old horse's tooth?

- Dennis.

[theme music]

- You ready to go ringing doorbells?

- I sure am.

- Hey, where's your sneakers?

- My sneakers?

- Sure.

If we're gonna go ringing doorbells,

we gotta be ready to run before they catch us.

[chuckle]

- Dennis, ringing doorbells is just an expression.

We're going from door to door asking

people what they'd like to give to the charity drive.

- I bet I know what Freddy Long would like to give.

- What?

- His new baby brother.

- Don't you just love this old bone pitcher.

It's a cocoa pitcher really, you know.

My grandmother gave it me as part of my trousseau Oh,

the doilies I tatted myself.

They were tatted by loving hands,

you might say, for a hope chest.

- Uh, I should get back to finishing

that TV set of yours, Miss Cathcart.

You're paying me by the hour, ya know.

- Don't fret about the expense, Maurice.

After all, everyone's entitled to a coffee break now and then,

especially men.

Now, isn't this is a cozy love seat?

It's stuffed with real horse hair.

- Oh, I could tell.

Well, I'd better be getting back.

- Oh, you haven't even touched your coffee.

And I brewed this pot just the way mother,

may she rest in peace, always used to brew it.

I added just a touch of salt.

- I--it's nice.

- Do you really like it?

- Yes, but it's just a little too salty.

- Oh, well have another sugar.

- No. I'd better fix your TV.

- Oh now, Maurice, that can wait.

Rome wasn't fixed in a day.

You know, I had no idea that you were single too, Maurice.

Oh, I just love your name, Maurice, You know,

there aren't many Maurice's around anymore are there?

- I promised a lot of customers for today, Miss Cath--

- Oh now, why don't you call me Esther?

After all, I call you Maurice.

You know, I had no idea that you were single too.

And I can usually sense a single person.

Uh.

Mother, may she rest in peace, always said

that a man should have a helpmate by his side

when he toiled.

Can I help you here, Maurice?

- Well, if I could just have a little elbow room.

- Oh, surely.

- Now, let me at this for a second, and you'll--

- Yul!

That's it.

I've been trying all day to r-- remember

who you reminded me of.

Yul Brynner. - Brenner?

[doorbell]

- Can't say that I know the family.

[doorbell]

- That should've done it.

Now, wait until you see the picture.

[doorbell]

- Just a minute.

I won't be long.

- I can't understand why that set hasn't warmed up yet.

- Hi, Miss Cathcart.

Where were ya, in the bathtub?

- Dennis!

- Hello, Dennis.

How are you, Alice?

[laughing]

- Dennis and I are collecting for the charity drive.

- Oh, well, what's everybody else giving?

- You're the first, Miss Cathcart.

- Well, whatever everyone else gives, I'll give.

- I'll just stay here and eat some of those swell cookies

you make until Mom finds out about everybody else.

- Oh, no.

No, don't do that!

What about $1?

Uh, $2?

Would $3 be all right?

- Hey, Mom.

This is where good old Miss Cathcart keeps the gumdrops.

You're not gonna watch TV, Mister, as long as

that plug's out.

[clearing throat] - Oh!

Here's your $3, Alice.

- Oh, thank you, Miss Cathcart.

Now just a moment, I'll write you a receipt.

- Oh, no. I really haven't time.

I mean, I really don't need one.

Excuse me.

Please don't go.

- Oh, we won't, Miss Cathcart.

- Dennis, Miss Cathcart wasn't talking to you.

- Haha.

Excuse me, Maurice.

Do you know Mrs. Mitchell?

- How do you do?

- Nice to meet you.

- Uh, same here.

And, uh, thanks Sonny.

- For what?

- Oh, just let it go with thanks.

- What do I owe you?

- I'll send you the bill.

- Well, look, why don't I give you

some coffee in my Thermos bottle?

Now, there's no rush about returning it.

I won't need it until tonight.

- I get heartburn from too much coffee.

- Oh.

Maurice, I've got some bicarbonate.

[phone ringing]

- Here.

[phone ringing]

- Hello?

Oh, hello, Adelaide.

We just got back.

Oh, we did pretty well.

I collected $11.

Do you know, Miss Cathcart gave $3?

Wasn't that nice of her?

Yes, I agree.

It would be the best thing in the world for her.

Well, fine.

I'll drop the money by sometime tomorrow.

All right, Adelaide.

Bye.

- Mom, what would be the best thing for Miss Cathcart?

- Oh, we were just thinking how nice

it would be if Miss Cathcart had a, best friend.

Well, someone around to protect her and take care of her.

- What do you mean?

- Well, you know, uh--

[stuttering]

- Well, I said it, a best friend.

That's all.

- Any best friend of good old Miss Cathcart's would

be a best friend of mine.

[doorbell]

- I'll get it.

- It's Mr. Wilson.

Hey, Mom.

It's Mr. Wilson!

Hi, Mr. Wilson.

Want to trade baseball cards?

- Baseball cards?

- Oh, come in, Mr. Wilson. - Thank you.

- Uh, Mrs. Singerman over on Sage Street just called me.

The dog catcher grabbed Fremont ,

and Martha's out shopping with the car.

- Oh, would you like me to drive you somewhere?

- Oh, that would be wonderful.

Poor Fremont's probably in the pound.

- In the pound?

- That's awful.

Hey, what's the pound, Mom?

- Oh, Dennis, it's a place where they

take stray dogs, dogs that get lost or don't have a home.

- Well, I certainly appreciate this Alice.

- Oh, I'll just get my purse.

- Oh.

- I bet you sure feel lonesome without old Fremont.

- Oh, yes, Dennis.

A man's best friend is his dog.

- After his mother.

[dogs barking]

- (ANGRILY) My name's Dennis Mitchell.

- Oh, I'm Leo Trinkle.

I'm glad to know ya.

- (ANGRILY) Where's the dog catcher?

- Well, they don't call us dog catchers no more.

I'm listed as a canine social worker.

- He's the dog catcher, Mr. Wilson.

- Oh, hello there.

- I can't understand why you people picked up my dog.

- Well, if they're off the leash, we gotta pick them up.

That's a law.

- Well, where is my dog?

- He's a Cairn Terrier.

- Oh, well, uh-- oh, Cairn, Cairn, Cairn Terrier.

A small terrier, uh, from the Isle of, uh Isle of Skye,

resemble a West Highland Terrier, a white terrier.

There, how's that?

[barking]

- Where is my dog?

- Well, uh, what's his name?

- Uh, Fremont.

- Fremont?

The names they give dogs these da--

whatever happened to names like Brownie,

and Fido, and Blackie, and Rover?

[dogs howling]

- Will you dogs please be quiet back there?

- Would you please get my dog?

- Is it fun being a dog catcher?

- Well, uh, it's OK.

It's a job.

A couple of years ago, my wife wanted me to get on one of them

quiz shows, ya know.

So I goes out, and gets me a category, dogs.

By the time I get dogs down cold, well hey,

those darn quiz shows was off the air.

And there I was stuck with all that dope about dogs.

So I-- I got me this job.

It's, um, OK.

Good hours.

- Would you please get my dog Fremont?

- Oh, yeah. I, uh--

[barking]

- Names they give dogs.

Uh, hello Maude?

Uh, we got a Cairn Terrier back there by the name of Freedman?

- Fremont, not Freedman!

- OK, well, correction Maude.

Uh, Fremont.

Yeah, uh, check that out please.

- What kind of a dog is this?

LEO TRINKLE (OFFSCREEN): Oh, he's

just a big mutt, part Airedale, part Afghan Hound.

Eh, let's see.

Airedale.

Airedale from the valley of the river

Aire in, uh, Yorkshire, England.

Uh, well, let's see-- oh, these two-part questions.

A Afghan Hound from Afghanistan used

to hunt lions and leopards.

Yeah, how's that?

- What about my dog?

- Yeah, Maude's checking on it.

You know, I always say a dog is a man's best friend,

even though some of them do give me the hives.

- Is a dog a lady's best friend too?

- Well, I guess so.

- He is an interesting dog.

- Yeah, uh, dates back to, uh, 2200 BC.

Came from the orient and, uh, China.

And, uh, that is the Afghan part of-- and, uh, uh, Air-- oh.

Maude, checking on that Cairn?

- What's the big dog's name?

- Well, I think it's Arthur.

- That-- at least, that's what was on the tag.

And it said Arthur.

And the rest was kind of faded away.

Uh, names they give dogs these days.

I tell you.

- I hope you find a nice home for Arthur.

- Well, you know, Son, that's the part

I like best about this job.

Finding nice homes for these dogs.

I-- I-- I got him out here.

He's-- he's kind of like, uh, hah, this week's special.

Hahaha.

- He doesn't look like a very well trained animal to me.

Arthur-- [snap]

- Come on. Sit up, boy.

Up Arthur.

Up, up, up boy, up.

Ah, isn't eve trained at all.

- I bet you could train him, Mr. Wilson.

- Well, I have had some experience with dogs

before, you know.

You give me an hour or so with any animal,

and I'll give you a better behaved beast.

MAUDE (ON INTERCOM): Mr. Trinkle?

Got one Cairn ready to go.

- Oh.

Well, that's you.

Well, come on.

We'll go in the back here and sort of things.

You know, it's nice talking with a man

who knows so much about dogs.

[whimper]

- It sure would be nice if someone found a good home

for old Arthur wouldn't it, Mom?

- Yes it would, Dear.

[whimper]

- I won.

What I meant was that because good old Miss Cathcart

needed something to protect her and to take care of her,

that Arthur would be it.

- A dog sure could protect Miss Cathcart, all right.

- Should we go tell Miss Cathcart about Arthur?

- Race ya.

- Oh Henry, you're as bad as Dennis.

Don't wash in the sink.

- Oh, haha.

Honey, don't be an old fuddy-dud.

- Sorry.

- Honestly, what's so wrong with washing in the sink?

- Well, nothing really, but--

- Now don't get mad, but you know what I think?

It's because your mother said it to you that you say it to us.

- Could be.

- Well, that's the first time I ever

said anything about your family and didn't

get into an argument.

- I guess the marriage is going to work after all.

- Where's Dennis?

- He's out playing with Tommy.

Oh Henry, he was so cute at the pound today.

- How come?

- Well, he was so concerned about getting homes

for all those dogs.

- Hah, that's when Dennis scares me the most.

- When Dear?

- When he gets concerned.

[chuckle] [chuckle]

- I'm glad you smiled when you said that.

- Well, that was a nervous smile.

- We just gotta tell you about Arthur.

- Shh.

Now listen, Dennis and Tommy.

Why don't you come back tomorrow?

And I'll make you some cookies.

- What you looking for?

- My tube checker.

I came back for my tube checker.

- What's a tube checker look like?

- Isn't that your mother calling you Tommy?

- She never calls.

She rings a cowbell.

- If you're looking for a little box, Mr., you're cold.

- Oh, Dennis, why don't you come out to the kitchen.

I've got something to show you! - Warmer!

- Dennis, wait until you see what I got--

- Warmer, warmer!

- Hot! - Oh.

[breathing heavily]

- Oh my!

How on earth did that get there, Maurice?

- I can't imagine, Miss Cathcart.

- I wish you'd call me Esther. - Thanks, fellas.

Bye.

- You too, Maurice.

- Could we tell you about Arthur now?

- He's a very nice big dog, Miss Cathcart.

- Uh huh.

- Isn't Arthur a nice name?

- Arthur?

- Sure.

The best friend we're getting for ya.

- Oh, yea-- yes.

- You want him, don't ya?

- We told him about you. - Oh, here.

Let me get something for you. Here, boys.

Have a taste both of you.

- Dennis says he has kind of short hair.

- Oh.

- Do you like them with long hair or short hair?

- Long hair or short hair? Oh, come on over and sit down.

Come on boys.

I really don't care if he's bald.

- I've never seen a bald one. - Well, listen.

Tell me all about Arthur.

Where's he from? Where does he live?

And what's he like?

Dennis says Arthur was a lion hunter.

- In Africa, but he's from China.

- Oh. Oh here.

Have another piece of cake.

Here.

Oh, now you're sure, he has no family?

No, um--

- He's all by himself.

- Oh.

- And that's no way for a dog to live.

- That's no way for anyone to live.

- I'll bring him over in a little while.

- You will?

Here, have another piece of candy.

You're gonna bring him over in a little while.

Oh my.

Oh, what about dinner?

Could he come and stay to dinner?

- If you like him, he could stay for good.

- For good?

Oh, my-- [swoons] Oh.

- We got a home for you, Arthur. - Yes, sir.

- There you are, Son.

- Thanks.

- That'll be $3.

- $3?

- Boy, that's an expensive gift.

- Oh, you giving him to somebody?

- To Miss Cathcart over on Maple Avenue.

She needs a best friend.

- Well, I think that's real nice.

- But I can't get it for her now on account of I could only

jiggle $0.40 out of my piggy bank.

- And I've only got a dime.

- Sold.

Tell you what I'll do.

I'll make up the difference myself.

- Gee thanks-- - Thanks!

- Mr. Trinkle!

- Oh, that's all right.

Now let me tell you about has diet.

He gets about a pound and a quarter of meat a day.

Now, you tell that Miss Carhart--

- Cathcart over on Maple Avenue.

- Eh, Miss-- eh, yeah.

You tell her not to give him vegetables

like broccoli or brussel sprouts.

Uh, he can have, oh, maybe, uh, a raw egg and a little cottage

cheese.

- You don't have to worry about feeding him.

Miss Cathcart's a good cook.

[dogs fussing]

- Will you dogs please be quiet?

The kids are talking out here.

- Gee, thanks a lot, Mr. Trinkle. - Oh that's all right.

I'm glad to see him get such a nice home.

Now, if you know of any other people

that need a dog, why you come on it

because the place is just full of them.

Oh, look.

Hives.

- Bye, Mr. Trinkle.

[dog barking]

- Guess what we got, Mr. Wilson.

- Great Scott.

Arthur.

- For Miss Cathcart.

- Have you told Miss Cathcart about Arthur?

- Yeah.

- Boy, if you could him something,

wouldn't Miss Cathcart be happy?

[chuckling] - Well.

[chuckling]

- Jeepers, Tommy.

I bet you didn't know that good old Mr. Wilson did

a lot of training in his days.

He's a great animal trainer aren't ya, Mr. Wilson?

- Well, I have done some work in the field.

[dog fussing] [snap]

- Down Arthur. Go on.

Go on. Get down.

Get down.

[ruff]

- What are you making him do now, Mr. Wilson?

I--I'm not making him do anything yet.

Poor beast is starved [whimper]

- for affection.

- How long do you think it'll take to train him, Mr. Wilson?

- Quite a while, I'm afraid.

- I better go tell Miss Cathcart that he's

gonna be late for supper.

Don't go away, Mr. Wilson. - Down.

[whimper]

[doorbell]

- Down here, Miss Cathcart.

Arthur's gonna be late for supper.

He's sitting down with Mr. Wilson,

but we'll give him away in a few minutes.

- Oh, good.

Have you, um-- have you talked to Arthur about me?

- Oh, we talked about a lot of things.

- Like what?

- Food.

- He can't have broccoli, or russel sprouts,

or things like that.

- Those adventurers always have bad stomachs.

Well, I'll fix him something bland, marvelous, but bland.

- We'd better get back before Mr. Wilson maybe

spoils his appetite.

- Oh, bye.

Oh my.

[dogs barking]

- A lot of hives.

Ooh. Yes, sir?

- My name is Prilych, P-R-I-L-Y-C-H.

I'm a traveling man.

Been around this neck of the woods for about a week.

- Yes, sir?

- I lost my dog.

- Aw, that's too bad.

But I guess we all got to go sometime.

- I don't mean that.

I mean lost, missing.

- Oh, uh, what breed?

- Well, he has an Airedale front and an Afghan back.

- We've got him.

- You have?

- Yep, uh, by the name Arthur?

- No.

Arthur is my name.

The dog's name is Zambezi.

My name is on the tag I think.

- Oh, well, I--I thought the name on-- on the tag was his.

- [chuckling]

- Y-- you know, them-- them-- them nut names are

given to these dogs nowadays.

- I've checked every town in the county.

Am I glad he's here.

- Yeah, we sold him.

- Sold him?

- Yeah, I--I can give you the name

of the lady the kid gave him to.

Let's see.

It, uh-- here we are.

Kid's name is Dennis Mitchell.

And he gave him to a Miss Esther Catheart,

uh, Carhart, uh, Cath-- Cathcart.

Yeah, she lives over on Maple, 620 Maple.

Yeah, there you are.

- Sorry, Mr. Wilson, but we can't let

you train Arthur anymore right now.

Miss Cathcart's got his supper ready.

- Come on, Arthur.

[barking]

ALICE MITCHELL

Mr. Wilson, have you seen Dennis?

Oh, heh, he-- he was here, but left a while ago

on his errand of mercy.

- What?

- He was taking Arthur over to Miss Cathcart's.

- Ar-- oh no, not that big dog? [gasp]

[doorbell]

- Miss, uh, Cathcart?

- Yes? - Do you know a Dennis Mitchell?

- Arthur?

- Yes, that's my name.

- Well, wait until you see what I've whipped up, Arthur.

Come in. Give me your hat.

I've never know a lion hunter before.

I did see "Trader Horn" years ago.

I was just a child, but I remember it well.

Come along. Sit down, Arthur.

There.

Look, chopsticks.

And I can use either hand.

I'm a switch eater.

- But Miss Cathcart, I--

- I wish you'd call me Esther.

After all, I call you Arthur.

Oh, would you like some tea?

It's Lapsang Souchung.

- But Miss Cathcart, there must be some mistake.

- Oh, perhaps you prefer Oolong tea.

[doorbell]

- It's probably a peddler.

Just ignore it.

You were saying?

- I was saying?

[doorbell]

- Excuse me.

[chuckle]

- He's here, Miss Cathcart.

- I know.

Thank you.

It was our little matchmaker.

He is a darling.

- Miss Cathcart, I don't know whether you know why I came.

- I know.

And I know you won't believe it when I tell you

that I had a feeling about this only this morning

while the television repairman was here.

It was In my horoscope.

You see, I'm a Taurus on the cusp.

Shakespeare was a Taurus, too.

Now, Mother was a Pisces on the cusp, too,

and Father was an elk.

[doorbell]

- Oh, excuse me.

I do hope you like Egg Foo Young.

I'll get to learn about your African dishes.

[doorbell]

- Tommy, Dennis, we're just getting to know each other.

Now, thank you so much.

He's charming.

Dennis, the young folks want to be alone.

- But-- but you didn't even look at Arthur.

- Look at him?

I can't take my eyes off of him.

- Is he always wagging his tail?

- What?

- Look at him wagging.

[whimper]

- You ever see a better best friend?

- And he's all yours from Dennis.

- Zambezi.

[barking]

- Zambezi, haha!

[barking]

- You sure have trouble with that TV set.

- My television set.

Wrecked!

- Oh, never mind. I'll get it fixed for ya.

I'll fix it.

[doorbell]

- I'll get it.

- Oh, Dennis.

Mr. Wilson just told us about the dog.

- Dennis was just trying to find a home for the dog.

- Well, this dog has a home.

- Dennis, did you do that?

- No, he didn't do it.

I did it.

That is, the dog did it.

My name is Prylich.

- Oh, Henry Mitchell.

Uh, this is my wife, Alice.

- How do you do?

- This is Arthur, Dad.

- No, young man.

I am Arthur.

The dog's name is Zambezi.

My wife named him that.

- You're married?

- I feel awful about the set, Miss Cathcart.

- Well, I just feel awful.

- Oh.

Well now, don't think about it, Ma'am.

I'm in the game.

Regional Manager Intercontinental Tube.

I'll have one of my repairman fix that in no time.

And you know what I'm going to do?

I'm going to give this little lady here--

I'm going to give her a free TV service

policy for a whole year.

- Oh, well, that won't be necessary.

The dog didn't do it on purpose.

- Ah, well, the whole thing has been embarrassing.

And I just want you to know how we

are at Intercontinental Tube.

Now you pick a TV repairman, and we'll

pay for all it's of his calls to you for the next year.

- Yes, that's a very good idea.

- Now you just pick a TV man for yourself.

- Well, when do I start picking?

- The set's on the fritz now, isn't it?

Why not begin right now?

- All right.

Maurice, excuse me.

He's not married.

- And young man, I'd like to give you a little something too.

After all, you're really the one who found my dog.

- Oh, that won't be necessary, Mr. Prylich, really.

- But I insist.

Here you are, $10. [gasp ]

- Uh--uh , really, Mr. Prylich--

- $10?

And do I know what I can do with this!

- Is Maurice there, please?

Well, it's personal.

Esther.

Just say it's Esther.

- Well, thanks, Mr. Prylich.

Uh, I mean, uh, where did Dennis go?

- Uh, good bye, Mr. Prylich.

- Uh, Mrs. Mitchell.

- Hello, Maurice?

It's Esther.

Guess.

Go on, guess.

Esther Cath-- rhymes with heart.

Esther Cathcart, silly.

[chuckle]

- Wait until you hear how I broke the set this time.

[laughing] DENNIS (OFFSCREEN): Mr. Wilson!

Mr. Wilson!

[dogs barking]

- Martha!

Martha!

- I got 20 more best friends for you to train.

Isn't that swell?

- Martha!

Great Scott, Martha!

[barking]

[theme music]

This has been a Screen Gems Film Production

from the Hollywood Studios of Columbia.

Pictures.