Original subtitles

- We sure do miss you, honey.

How much longer you gonna have to stay?

- Oh, just a few more weeks.

Dad tried his new crutches today and got along beautifully.

How's grandma?

- Oh, she's just fine.

I'm driving her up to Rockdale and back tonight.

She has to get some more clothes.

- Well, did you get a sitter? - Yes.

Miss Cathcart's gonna stay with, uh, Dennis while we're gone.

Oh, I think he wants to talk to you.

- Hi mom!

- Hello darling.

How's my big boy?

- Well.

But we sure miss you.

- Oh.

I miss you too.

How's grandma and Mr. and Mrs. Wilson?

- They're fine.

And you know what mom?

Mr. Wilson is the nicest man in the whole wide, wide world!

- He is.

- Boy, is he great.

He's all the time wanting to do things for ya.

- Well, that's nice.

What does he want to do now?

- He just told me he was gonna fix my wagon,

and it isn't even broken yet!

[theme song]

- Now stop gulping your breakfast, boys.

I believe in being on time, but not at the risk of indigestion.

- Yes.

What are those strings on your fingers for?

- Well, this one is to remind me not

to forget that I got a string on the other finger

to remind me of something.

- What?

- I think I forgot.

- Where's your jacket, dear?

- Do I have to wear a jacket, grandma?

- Yes, you do.

I'll get it, and I'll bring you a sweater, Henry.

- Oh, I'm all right, mother. - Now, son.

Warmth helps digestion.

- But mom!

- You sound just like me!

- I do at that. - Hey!

I just remembered.

This one is to remind me to ask you for permission.

- For what?

- To bring something home from school.

You see, it gets cold on the weekends

when they turn the heat off, and the kids

get to bring things home.

- Like what?

- There's Bob, the big long rat!

- Well, I don't think so.

- And there's a bunch of little white mice!

- No, mice, Dennis.

- OK!

Maybe I could get the parakeet.

And there's a hamster, and there's

a little teeny duck and a garter snake!

- Are you going to a school or a zoo?

- Can I have permission to bring something home?

- Look, Dennis.

Your mother's away and your grandmother's

having a rough enough time trying

to take care of both of us.

Besides, you've never learned to take care of anything properly.

- I'll take care of what I bring, honest!

Hey!

There's even an incubator with eggs!

- You just don't live up to your obligations with pets, Dennis.

It took your mother and me four days to find that turtle.

- If I could bring something home, you'd see.

It's just for the weekend.

- Well, OK. All right.

You get one more chance.

But if you don't really take care of whatever you bring

home, if anything happens to it, it'll

be a long time before you get another pet.

Now, is that a deal?

- Promise!

- Now, bundle up, boys.

- You're the best dad in the whole world and a half!

- Well, thank you.

- Bye grandma!

Bye dad!

- Bye-bye, dear.

- Bye, son.

- Oh, now be careful.

You'll muss your hair.

- Yes, mother.

- Now, you'll have to straighten your tie.

- Yes, mother.

- What time shall I tell Miss Cathcart to get here?

- Oh, about 5 o'clock.

You and I can have dinner on the way.

[doorbell]

- Oh, good morning, Mr. Wilson.

- Oh, hello Mitchell.

Mrs. Mitchell.

- Good morning, Mr. Wilson.

- I, uh, just wanted to remind you about the neighborhood

association meeting at my house tonight.

- Tonight? - Um-hmm.

8:30.

- Golly, Mr. Wilson, I forgot all about it.

I'm driving mother up to Rockdale and back.

- Well, maybe you can get back in time

to attend some of the meeting at least.

We need a few level heads like yours.

- Oh?

- Oh, the firebrands are out in force.

Why they've even summoned Sergeant Mooney

to attend the meeting.

- What for?

- Oh, some of the members are up in arms because

of the lack of enforcement of some of the zoning laws

and so on.

- Maybe if you're still going when I get back,

I'll drop over.

- Oh, you do that.

- I'd better to get off to the office, mother.

- All right, dear.

- Oh, by the way, Mitchell, how's your chess coming?

- Just fair, Mr. Wilson.

Say, how's the game you're having

with that expert in the East?

- Oh!

I have him completely stumped.

I mailed him my move a month ago and haven't

heard from him since.

He doesn't answer me by tomorrow,

he'll lose by default! - Good.

- Let's see if anything hatched on the way home!

- Yeah!

- Nope.

None of them hatched.

- They need teeth to hatch!

We've got to plug in the electricity.

- What's electricity got to do with it?

- An incubator is electrical, and it kind of sits on eggs

until they turn into chicks.

It's the same as a hen.

- If I was an egg, I'd rather be sat

on by a hen than electrified.

- Where you gonna find a hen big enough to sit on 30 eggs?

- Yeah! - Come on.

These eggs are getting cold.

- 30 eggs.

Boy!

- Now I'll plug it in.

There we are!

You keep your eye on them, Tommy, till I find something.

- You can get awful tired looking at just eggs.

When are they gonna be chicks?

- When they get heated enough from that electrical light.

Here's one of the things I was looking for.

- What do you want with that?

- To mark the eggs.

I'm going put a blue mark on one side,

and a red one on the other.

That is, if I can find a red crayon.

- What are you coloring them for?

- I'm gonna put different marks on them

so I won't get mixed up when I turn them.

- Turn em? - Sure!

Incubating eggs have to be turned several times a day.

And these have to be turned again at 4 o'clock.

Hey!

Be careful with that!

- What is it?

- A hinge from a pirate ship!

- Honest!

- Well, it's from a ship.

- Really?

- Well, I found it on the beach, so what else could it be?

- I'll give you my dried up rattle snake skin for it!

- I'll look at the skin and decide.

Hey!

The light's out!

- Yeah, and the eggs are getting cold fast!

- We gotta get another bulb right away!

- Here's one, Dennis!

- That's not the kind, Tommy.

- What kind do we need?

- What we gotta have is a-- 1-2-0 V, 1-0-0 W Usa bulb.

- Usa?

- U-S-A.

- Gosh.

Where are we gonna find one of those?

- You keep your eye on the eggs and I'll go look.

- Is that you, Dennis?

- Yes, grandma!

GRANDMA (OFFSCREEN): I've

for you, Dennis.

I'll get it just as soon as I'm through here.

- Be right back, grandma!

- Look, Dennis.

- That's not strong enough, Tommy!

- Did you find one?

- Not a bulb in the house that's a 1-2-0 V, 1-0-0 W Usa.

- We could go and check my house!

- Mr. Wilson will have one, I bet!

He's always got just what you have to borrow!

Come on!

- But Dennis!

What about the eggs?

- We'll keep them warm in that blanket!

That'll be better than nothing!

Careful, Tommy!

- Here's your sandwich, dear.

- Be right back, grandma!

- Girls are a lot easier to take care of than boys.

What on earth is that child doing

with all these eggs in his room?

- Oh.

Then you'll be here tonight.

Fine. Goodbye.

- Hi, Mr. Wilson!

- Oh, Tommy.

Dennis, I'm busy.

- Me too, Mr. Wilson.

I'm busy getting light bulbs.

It's a 1-2-0 V, 1-0-0 W Usa.

- Usa?

- It's a matter of life and death!

- Oh, I'll bet.

- If I don't get a light bulb, I'll

never get to have another pet!

- Good!

- But Mr. Wilson!

- Oh, Dennis!

Well, if I let you have a bulb, will you go home?

- Yes, Mr. Wilson.

- Well, good.

Look around the room.

Maybe you'll find one in one of the lamps.

- Swell!

- Busy. Oh!

Not that one!

Get away from that table.

You might disturb my chess game.

- My dad plays chest.

- It's chess.

And that table is set up like that

because I'm playing a game with somebody.

- You are!

You're playing with somebody, now?

- Right this very minute I'm playing with a man,

and I've got him in a very tough spot.

- You're playing with a man?

- Yes.

- Is he the invisible man, Mr. Wilson?

- Invi-- oh, fiddle fat.

- Hey Dennis!

Here's a bulb, I bet ya! - Yeah!

That's the one!

I'll get it!

- Operator, would you check Adam 64813?

It's always busy.

- It's hot!

Dennis!

- Hey Mr. Wilson!

Catch! - Ow!

Ooo!

Dennis, Tommy, for Pete's sake!

Ooo!

- Dennis!

- Hello, Mrs. Wilson!

Goodbye, Mrs. Wilson!

- Here's a ladder for you, dear.

- Oh, thank you, Martha.

Well, from my opponent in Bell Harbor.

Huh-oh!

He's probably given up and is conceding defeat.

- You're too good at chess, dear.

- Oh, it couldn't be.

It just couldn't be!

- What is it?

- Martha, listen to this.

Dear Mr. Wilson.

Are you stumped?

I've waited for a month now.

It's your move!

- Oh, dear!

- Why, I thought all along it was his move!

Oh, for heaven's sake!

[gasp] He's absolutely right.

Oh, Martha, what am I going to do?

If he doesn't hear from me by tomorrow, I'll lose by default!

- Could you send him a wire?

- Oh, Martha.

You just don't understand.

Why, a problem such as this requires

a week of concentration!

- My George can do it.

- Well, not unless I have absolute peace and quiet I

can't.

Why I should shut myself up in a dark room for an entire day

without a sound or a distracting thought.

- This'll do it!

Now, you put the bulb in, and I'll get the eggs.

The eggs!

- They're gone! - Grandma!

Grandma!

- Grandma, did you do anything with my eggs!

- You shouldn't play with food, dear.

There are too many hungry people in the world.

- Grandma, did you see my eggs?

- Yes.

I found them in your room and I put them in the refrigerator.

- In the refrigerator!

- Hurry, Dennis!

- We can't let them get cold!

- Oh, you can't?

- They're special eggs, grandma.

I got them from school, and I'm taking care of them

so they'll hatch!

- Oh, my!

Here, let me help you!

- They gotta be put back in the incubator!

- Just wait'll dad hears about this!

- Well, never you mind.

It's all my fault.

I'll explain to your father.

- And you're turned, little chick, and you're turned,

and you're turned, and you're turned.

- How you doing, son?

- I'm turning them, dad, like you're supposed to.

I sure hope they didn't get too cold in the ice box.

- Grandma said they were only in there for a few minutes.

They're OK.

- I sure don't want anything to happen to my obligation.

- Grandma told me all about.

You're doing a fine job, son.

I'm real proud of you.

[doorbell]

- That must be Miss Cathcart.

She's going to stay with you till we get back.

- I like Miss Cathcart.

I bet she'll be glad to see my eggs!

- One good turn deserves another.

Mother, bless her, used to say.

- Did your mom, bless her, have an incubator?

- No, dear.

Well, time for you to go beddy bye.

Lights out.

- Oh, don't turn the light out in the incubator.

They gotta have light on all the time.

They're my [thunder]

- obligation. - Oh, goodness.

Come along.

Sleep tight.

"To sleep, to sleep, perchance to dream."

Bet you don't know who said that.

- Your mom, bless her?

- No. Shakespeare.

He was a famous playwright, born in 1564.

- Did you know him well?

- Goodnight, Dennis.

- I'll hang it up for you, Mrs. Elkins.

Just take your seat.

[thunder]

- Yes, and you see it's, uh, it's my move,

and so I have to wire my opponent tomorrow.

Oh, excuse me.

May I have your attention folks, please?

[thunder]

- I, first of all, want to thank you for coming out on the such

a dismal evening.

But since we have nowhere near the number for a quorum,

I am forced to call this meeting adjourned.

So be it!

- Just a minute!

Quorum or no quorum.

I have something on my mind!

And since Sergeant Mooney of the police force is present,

I intend to put it on the agenda!

- And so do I!

- I should say so!

- But I thought, uh-- Well, I-- I--

I thought with so few here and it being so bad a night out,

that you'd all-- [thunder]

- want to race right home!

- In all this rain?

I should say not.

We're not moving.

- Absolutely not!

- Well, in that case, the meeting is now open.

[thunder]

- Are you all right, Dennis?

I'm all right.

I'm just wondering if you're all right.

- Sure.

- And I used to be afraid of thunder

when I was a little girl, but I'm not afraid anymore!

- Once my grandpa said thunder was just clouds bumping,

and it made me laugh, so I'm never afraid of the noise.

Goodnight, Miss Cathcart.

[thunder] - Dennis!

Now don't be afraid!

Everything's going to be all right!

Think good thoughts.

Whistle something!

- The lights are out!

Miss Cathcart!

My eggs won't hatch if they don't have heat on them!

- Now, Dennis. Everything's going to be fine.

There's no need to be nervous about anything.

Just whistle!

Oh, I can't seem to pucker!

- Maybe Mr. Wilson's lights are on!

I'll go see!

- That's good thinking!

- Keep cool, Dennis!

Keep cool!

- Mr. Wilson's lights are on!

I'll call him and maybe he'll let us come over there.

There's something wrong with the phone!

It's got no [mouth sound].

It's broken!

- You're right.

It's dead!

Now keep your spirits up, child.

We can sing something if you like.

Hmm-hmm.

[sing] Oh beautiful, for spacious skies,

for amber waves of grain.

For purp--

- It stopped raining, so I'm going to get the incubator over

to Mr. Wilson's house fast!

- Oh, I'll say!

Oh boy!

[inaudible] and I'll be there!

- Mr. Wilson's dog, Fremont, chased my Tinkerbell up a tree

this very morning!

Now, there's a law that says that dogs

must be kept on a leash, and I insist

that Sergeant Mooney carry out that law!

- But Mrs. Elkins--

- Well, it's a silly law.

- Well, I have a complaint.

Tinkerbell comes to my house and disturbs

the birds that come to take a bird bath!

Sergeant Mooney, I want that cat arrested!

- Now, ladies!

- Now see here.

I--

- And there's another law that prohibits

the raising of barnyard fowls and other animals,

and Sergeant Mooney here doesn't even attempt to enforce it.

Mr. Wade here has a couple of pet roosters

that are the nuisance of the neighborhood.

It's useless to try to sleep past sunrise.

- Now wait just a minute, Maurice!

- Now it's up to you, Sergeant. - I should say!

- You're right folks.

It's the letter of the law, but most folks around here

didn't want to have it enforced.

But from now on, anyone with any animal running around

without at leash, or possessing a barnyard animal or fowl

is going to get the book thrown at him!

[door buzzer]

- Oh.

Get the back door, will you, Martha, please?

- And I'll start right now by making out

a ticket against Mr. Wilson for letting his dog run around

without a leash.

The judge will fine you $5.

And Mr. Wade back here will be fined $10 for his two roosters.

That's $5 a chicken.

And Mrs. Elkins here will also get a $5 ticket

for letting her cat run around without a leash!

- That's outrageous! [arguing]

- Well, I never heard of anything so ridiculous--

- It's adjourned!

All in favor! - Dennis!

Come on in.

Hello, Miss Cathcart. - Hello, Ms. Wilson

- Is something wrong?

- Our electricity was off, and I gotta

have electricity, Mrs. Wilson.

- Do you wanna go to bed here?

- I gotta stay up and watch my eggs!

- Your eggs?

- Yeah. In the incubator.

Where's a good place to plug this in, Mrs. Wilson?

I can't wait for Mr. Wilson to see em.

- Well I-- I don't think you better show them to Mr. Wilson

now, Dennis.

You see, there's this meeting, and then

he has his chess problem.

- Oh, mustard plaster's marvelous.

- I said chess problem.

- Oh.

- I just thought it would be fun for him

to watch them when they hatch. - Hatch?

You mean there are going to be little chickens?

- Sure, Mrs. Wilson!

Any time now!

- But it's against the law.

Sergeant Mooney's on the rampage.

MR. WILSON (OFFSCREEN): Martha? Oh, Martha?

- [gasp] Quick! Hide them.

Don't let him find them!

- Martha, where's my fountain pen?

That Sergeant Mooney's making me sign a ticket.

- I'll get it, dear.

- Why, Dennis!

Why, Miss Cathcart, what's wrong with you?

- Bad back.

- What's that electric light cord?

- Special electric blanket.

It's my sacroiliac. - Oh.

You know I've had a bad sacroiliac for years,

and in damp weather it's murder.

Well-- eh, is it any good?

Well, let me try it.

- Oh, no.

It's damp out tonight.

I better stay here a little longer.

- Come now.

Don't be selfish, woman.

Let me try it.

What do you, just lean back on it?

It-- Well, it doesn't feel very warm.

[chick sounds] - Hey!

They must be starting to hatch! - Hatch?

- Look!

There's one pecking away at his shell!

- What in the world?

- Little chickens, Mr. Wilson!

I'm going to have 30 of em!

- Oh, no!

SERGEANT MOONEY (OFFSCREEN): Hey Wilson!

Mr. Wilson!

- Sergeant Mooney.

Martha, the fountain pen.

- The meeting was adjourned just as-- sign that ticket.

- Uh, just a second, Sergeant. - What's a matter with you?

- He has a bad sacroiliac.

That's a special electric blanket.

- Well, I got a bad back too.

Let me try it.

- Oh, it feels so good.

Just a few more minutes, please Sergeant!

- No, let me try.

Let me try it!

[chick sounds]

- What's going on?

- Great Scott.

- Oh.

Oh.

Chickens, huh?

You're raising right under my nose.

Let me see.

One, two, three.

Three times five.

That'll be $15.

[chick sound]

- That's four.

That's $20.

[chick sound]

- And that one makes it $25.

- Sergeant, they aren't mine.

They belong to Dennis.

- Dennis is a minor and they're on your property.

- Mr. Wilson, have you seen-- Dennis,

what are you doing over here?

- Our electricity went out, dad, and I brought the eggs over

here, and they're hatching!

- Mitchell, do something.

Sergeant Mooney's dug up an old law,

and it's costing me $5 for every egg that hatches.

- That's right, Mr. Mitchell.

- But the chickens belong to Dennis.

- Well, actually, they belong to the school, Sergeant Mooney.

Dennis is just taking care of them.

It's a lesson in learning to take care of an obligation.

- That's right, Mooney.

Fine the school, if you have to find someone!

- Well, I-- I can't fine the school.

They don't have any money.

Sign the ticket and I'll be on my way.

- It's all signed.

Here.

- Thank you.

- Is Mr. Maurice still here?

- I think so.

- Do you know if he makes house calls

to repair TV sets at night?

- I guess so, if it's an emergency.

- Well, I really hate to miss "Studio One."

- "Studio One?"

That's been off the air for years!

- You see?

My TV set's in worse shape than I thought.

I'll let him walk me home.

Goodnight, all.

- Thanks, Miss Cathcart. - You're welcome.

- Well, I guess we better go, Dennis.

- Oh, that's a good idea.

You see, I have a long night ahead of me

with my chess problem.

- But they're hatching, dad!

I can't leave them here while they're hatching!

- Of course you can't, dear.

- Martha!

- I'll tell you what I'll do.

I'll put a little folding cot in here,

and you can stay right with your baby chicks.

- Well, are you sure it's all right, Ms. Wilson?

- Of course.

- But Martha!

My chess problem!

Solitude!

Oh, Martha!

- Oh, what a night.

I've had my living room full of creeps, and now

a kitchen full of cheeps.

- Another one just hatched, Mr. Wilson!

I guess it's your night, Mr. Wilson!

- My night.

My night in a chess game.

Oh.

Why he's right!

Why, if I sacrificed my knight, it would be-- Yes!

If I sacrificed my knight, it would

be the cheapest move I could make.

I let him have my knight, and then there's

only one logical move he can make!

And then!

And then I've got him!

I've got him! Martha!

Wake up!

What number do I dial to send a telegram!

[theme music]

This has been a Screen Gems film production from the Hollywood

Studios of Columbia Pictures.