Original subtitles

- Hey Dad.

Can I have $0.50 for the movies?

Me and Tommy want to see the new double bill.

- Well, it depends on what the pictures are son.

Are they good for kids?

- Oh they're swell for kids.

They're both about animals.

- That sounds all right.

There you are.

- Thanks Dad.

- Dennis, what kind of animals are in the picture?

Horses?

Dogs?

- No.

One of them is "The Creature With the Crimson Fangs"

and the other is the "Monster from the Slimy Swamp."

- Dennis.

Dennis, come back here!

[theme music]

- And like I told Dad, it was just an accident, Mom.

That old football slipped right off my foot.

- I believe you Dennis.

But they'll be no more football playing around here

for a while, right?

- Well I apologized to Mrs. Elkins

and got Buzz on the phone.

He'll repair the window for $2 this afternoon.

- Good.

Incidentally son, Ms. Elkins tells me

you came right to the door and told her

it was you who broke the window. Sure Dad.

- You told me to always tell the truth no matter what.

Besides, I had to get my football back.

- Well, that's very commendable, just the same.

- Yes, you did the right thing son and I'm proud of you.

- Gee swell.

Does that mean you're not going to punish me then?

- No, I'm not going to punish you.

I realize it was an accident.

Of course, I'll expect you to pay for it though.

- Pay for it? Me?

I have to pay for the window?

- You broke the window, didn't you?

I didn't break it. - Well, gee.

No, Dad.

But $2 That's an awful lot of money.

Gee whiz.

This is the unluckiest week of my whole life.

Everything's happened to me.

- His frog is still missing. - Yeah.

Sam hopped out of his box Monday and I've

been hunting for him all week.

And now on top of all that, I have to pay $2.

- Well, everyone has their ups and downs.

- I've only got $1.10.

I'll probably have to quit school and go

to work to earn the rest of it.

- Why I hope not.

I do hope you can continue your education.

- Yes for a couple of grades more at least.

Maybe you could find some work around the neighborhood.

- I'll try.

Maybe Mr. Wilson has some errands I can run for him.

I can run a lot faster than he can.

- Oh, that's a shame dear.

Mr. Wilson's downtown.

Maybe I can think of a job for you.

- Would you like me paint the garage, or the front porch,

or prune Mr. Wilson's rose bushes, maybe.

- I don't think we need any painting or pruning today dear.

I know, you could can mow the front law for me.

I'll have Mr. Wilson pay you $0.50 for it.

How's that?

- Gee, that's swell, Mrs. Wilson.

But wait.

Mr. Wilson just cut the grass yesterday.

- I don't think he did a very good job.

It would be worth half a dollar to have you do it again.

- I'll sure do a good job, all right.

I'll cut the best grass you ever saw.

- Here you are Sir. $1.28 altogether.

- $1.28.

Oh yes.

Oh I just happened to have the exact change right there

you are.

- Hold it Mac.

- Hmm?

- This ain't no half.

- Oh.

Well.

Oh.

Well so it isn't.

What do you know about that.

I must have picked it up somewhere in change today.

- $0.50 please. - Yes.

Oh, yes.

Well what a silly mistake.

It's just a little good luck charm, isn't it?

- It was the guy who pawned it off on you.

Better luck next try Mac.

- Confounded thing.

Nobody will take it.

- Martha.

What is going on out there?

Dennis is mowing the lawn and says

I'm to pay him $0.50 for it.

- That's right dear.

- But I moved that lawn myself yesterday.

Even weeds don't grow that fast.

- I know.

But Dennis has a problem.

- Who doesn't?

- He needs the money to pay for a window that

accidentally got broken.

- Well, I'm all finished.

Mr. Wilson, the lawn mower accidentally

clipped one of your flowers.

- That's one of my prized pelargoniums is all.

- Did you ever have one of those weeks

where everything goes wrong, Mr. Wilson?

- Weeks?

Dennis, I've had years!

And they all started when you first moved into--

- George!

Mr. Wilson will pay you now dear.

I have things to do.

Excuse me.

- Well I might as well give I suppose.

When Martha decides something--

- Gee that's a pretty coin Mr. Wilson.

Where'd you get it. - Oh this?

Oh I've had that for some time.

I-- Dennis I have something here that you

need even worse than money.

- There's isn't anything I need worse than money, Mr. Wilson.

- Oh but what you need is some luck, Dennis.

Good luck!

- Well, yes I sure need that all right.

- Well you just take a look at this.

Now this is a genuine good luck charm.

See right there, in the center of that horseshoe.

It says good luck.

- Yeah, that's what it says all right.

Good luck Yes sir.

- Well, I'll tell you what Dennis.

Now if you want, you can have these lucky piece, instead of

the half dollar.

- Instead of the half dollar?

Well I don't know Mr. Wilson.

A half dollar's a good thing to have too.

- Oh yes but anybody can make a half dollar.

But if a fellow has a lucky piece like this, why there's

just no telling what kind of good luck might happen to him.

- Yeah, that's right Mr. Wilson.

Maybe I'll find a gold mine or something.

- Can't tell!

- Or maybe even old Sam will come back even.

- Oh well, who knows.

- This is a lot better than $0.50.

Thanks Mr. Wilson!

Bye Mrs. Wilson!

Bye Mr. Wilson!

- George Wilson you ought to be ashamed of yourself.

- Who me?

Well why?

I just--

- Palming that silly good luck charm off on Dennis to save

paying him $0.50.

- Oh well I-- The grass didn't need cutting anyway, Martha.

Besides Dennis is very happy with it.

Very happy.

- Because you told him it would bring him luck.

Oh for heaven's sake, that worthless piece of trash.

- Well now, Martha, maybe it isn't worthless.

Maybe it will bring him luck.

- Oh stop!

- Well I don't know.

Stranger things have happened.

Maybe that boy might just go out and find

the money he wants somewhere.

It's possible.

- Oh well honestly.

Good luck charm.

Maybe that boy might go out and find the money somewhere.

- It's possible.

- Mr. Wilson Look what I found. $1 bill right

on the sidewalk in front of my house.

- Good Dennis, now don't bother me.

You what? $1!

- This little old lucky piece you gave me

is really starting to work.

- My isn't that wonderful.

- Fine Dennis.

Now if you'll just move, I'll finish spraying here.

- You should did me a favor Mr. Wilson.

Now I can pay for that window I broke and have $0.10 left over.

I'm going to go tell Tommy.

- My goodness dear.

You said he might find some money and sure enough he did.

- Oh Martha, coincidence.

Nothing but coincidence.

- I'm not so sure dear.

Maybe you should have given Dennis the $0.50 and kept that

lucky piece yourself.

- Oh good grief Martha.

How can you be so superstitious?

- You mean you put the $1 there for Dennis to find.

It was your $1?

- Well actually, it was George's.

I took it out of his wallet.

- But why?

- To teach my dear husband a lesson.

He deliberately tricked Dennis into taking that lucky piece

instead of $0.50.

- Oh I see.

So you want to make him believe it's really lucky.

- Exactly!

I want him to be sorry he ever let it go.

He's a fine man and a wonderful husband,

but sometimes he goes a bit too far.

And this time, I want to really worry him a little.

- Do you think this will worry him?

- It will before I'm through.

Alice, I want to make the luckiest possible things happen

to Dennis all day.

- That sounds like fun.

It probably will work too.

Men are so easy to fool, aren't they?

- They certainly are.

- It's a good thing or a lot of us girls would

still be single if they weren't.

- Now let's see.

What lucky thing can we make it happen next?

- Well.

- I think I've got it.

- I finished my soup Mom.

Can I have some milk and cookies now?

- Of course dear.

I have a fresh new box for you.

- Oh boy.

Treasure chest.

Maybe I'll get another swell whistle

like I got in the last box.

- Could be.

- Or maybe even a better prize.

My lucky piece is making me awful lucky today.

Look Mom!

A compass.

Just like the one I told you I needed for the Cub Scouts!

- Oh that's a wonderful prize. - Wait.

There's something else in here too A regulation Scout knife!

Just like the one I told you about.

This is better than 50 old whistles.

- Oh much better.

- And I reached in and the first thing I pulled out

was this good old compass.

Isn't it swell?

- It's very nice dear.

- And that was only half the prize.

I got a Scout knife too.

Look at it Mr. Wilson.

- Well I see it Dennis.

You don't have to hold it right up to my face.

- You're really having a very lucky day dear.

- Because Mr. Wilson gave me that lucky piece.

Thanks Mr. Wilson.

- You're welcome Dennis.

You're-- Dennis, why don't you be a good boy

now and run on home now, huh?

- OK.

I'll go look in old Sam's box.

I'm so lucky today, my frog might have come back.

- Isn't it strange dear.

First he finds a dollar and then the compass

and the Scout knife just out of the blue.

- Just another coincidence Martha.

- But such an amazing coincidence.

At least $6 worth of prizes in a little $0.39 box of cookies.

- They just made a mistake at the factory, that's all.

Course it is a little strange that Dennis was lucky enough

to get the only box that-- Aww.

No, there's nothing to it.

I'll tell you one thing though Martha.

That blasted frog of his won't come back because I'm the one--

- George!

You didn't!

- Oh well, now Martha.

I didn't hurt it.

I just got so sick and tired of hearing that thing croak

all night that I scooped it up and put it back

into the lagoon.

We've seen the last of Sam.

- Yes dear.

- Well I'm going upstairs and lie down.

Take a little nap.

- Come on.

[frog croaking]

- I wouldn't do this again for anything.

Where'll I put him?

- Sam's box is over near the porch.

- Here.

- [frog croaking]

- Eek!

Put him in a box.

- Cover him up quick.

- Dennis will be tickled to death.

I can't wait to see George's face.

- Guess what, Mr. Wilson!

Sam came back!

- What?

Oh get that slimy thing away from me.

- My that's wonderful dear.

Where did you find him?

- Oh I didn't find him.

He just came home and got back in his box.

It's that lucky piece that did it.

Oh boy.

- Dennis, I don't want to hear any more about it.

Anymore about it!

- Is he mad at me or something?

- No dear, of course not.

Mr. Wilson's just suffering from a severe attack of confusion.

- Well, come on Sam.

Bye!

- You look worried George.

- Oh well I am worried Martha, about that lucky piece.

I refuse to believe it until that confounded frog came back.

Why, I put that silly thing in the lagoon myself.

- You told me dear.

- I know but frogs don't come back Martha.

Oh, dogs come home, even cats come home, but not frogs.

It simply couldn't happen and yet it did.

As soon as I gave Dennis that charm, every law of nature

was broken.

Martha, that thing does bring luck.

- But that's superstition dear and you

said you weren't superstitious.

- All right, I've changed my mind.

Now let's not talk any more about it.

This thing has gotten me so upset already, I feel terrible.

- Oh that's too bad dear.

You think we should call a witch doctor?

- Aww come Dennis, let's go play in the park.

- I better not Tommy.

I'm waiting for my lucky piece to work again.

- Wouldn't it work if we were over in the park?

- Sure.

It works anywhere Tommy.

But if something lucky happened in the park,

I might be playing so hard, I wouldn't even notice it.

- Yeah, I guess so.

Well I'll see you later Dennis.

- Bye Tommy.

[music playing]

[dog barking]

[music playing]

- Couldn't find the stick huh?

Well, I'm not going to go chase it for you.

Sorry Fremont.

I'm too comfortable.

You go and dig for bones, and if you dig up a big hunk of gold,

you can bring that to me.

- Why don't you go out in the patio

and just relax for awhile.

- Oh yes, that might be a good idea.

Stretch out in my hammock.

- You better turn the sprinkles on dear.

The grass is a little dry.

- Oh I will.

And Martha, if Dennis comes over here with anymore good news,

don't you tell him where I am.

I've had about all I can take!

- Dennis Mitchell.

What are you doing here?

- Oh hi Mr. Wilson.

I'm waiting for something else lucky to happen.

- Well don't wait in my hammock.

Now go on home.

- OK, Mr. Wilson.

- Oh, as you leave, Dennis, will you

turn on the sprinkler for me over there, please?

- Sure Mr. Wilson.

- (SCREAMING) Oh!

Dennis!

Oh!

- Jeepers!

- Oh Dennis!

- You want me to pull the sprinkler away Mr. Wilson?

- Yes! Yes!

- Which one do you want me to do?

- Oh my foot's caught!

Just turn the water off.

I cant give up.

- Gosh Mr. Wilson.

You're soaked!

- My foot got caught on it.

Now how did that confounded thing get under the hammock.

- I don't know.

I guess it was just there all the time.

- And why did I ask you to get out of the hammock

and why did I get soaked instead of you?

- I bet I know why.

It's on account of my lucky piece.

When I've got it, I only have good luck.

- I'm sorry, I--- Martha!

- So I dried him off and now he's just

sitting there muttering about his luck.

- Don't you think we've gone far enough?

Do you think we should tell him the truth now?

- No Alice, not yet.

In the future when George gets pompous,

I want to be able to say "lucky piece"

and bring him right back to earth.

- All right. I'll go along with you.

- Have you though of anything else we can do?

- Well I was thinking I might get Mr. Finch down at the drugstore

to call Dennis on the phone and tell him

he'd won about oh five free ice cream sodas.

He could put them on my bill.

- Alice, you've got a marvelous mind.

- And then Sam came back.

It was this little old lucky piece that did it.

Right Mom?

- Certainly looks like it.

- Alice, you shouldn't encourage him to believe in that.

Stuff You know a little piece of metal can't work magic.

- This one can. See?

It even looks lucky.

It's got a horseshoe right there.

And-- [phone rings]

- I'll get it.

- See, right beside the horseshoe it says "Good luck."

- Hello?

Oh yes.

He's here.

Just a minute.

Dennis.

It's for you.

- Gee who wants me?

I haven't done anything.

Hello?

Oh hello Mr. Finch.

What?

Me? Jeepers!

That's swell.

Thanks Mr. Finch.

Good bye!

Dad, I told you I was lucky.

That was Mr. Finch down at the drug store.

And he had a contest and my name got picked

and I get five free ice cream sodas!

- Well I'll be darned.

- I'm going to go over and tell good old Mr. Wilson.

He'll be real happy for me.

- No wonder he thinks this thing is bringing him luck.

- Well actually, Mrs. Wilson and I did it.

- You what?

- We're trying to teach Mr. Wilson a lesson.

He talked Dennis into taking that silly old charm instead

of $0.50 he owed him so we're trying to prove to him that

this is really lucky.

- Why you scheming females.

- You won't give us away now will you?

- Give you away?

Give a good gag like that away.

Why, if I get a chance, I'll help you.

- Gosh, Mr. Wilson, I'll have to ask Dad first.

- Guess what Dad!

Mr. Wilson wants to buy my lucky piece back for a whole dollar.

- Sit down Mrs. Wilson.

- I suppose you've heard the wonders it's been doing.

- Yes I told him all about it.

- It seems to be rather a remarkable charm.

Dennis, are you sure you want to sell it?

- Gee I don't know whether I should or not, Dad.

- Oh well, Dennis, $1 is a lot of money.

- After all it is Dennis' Mr. Wilson.

- And he can do what he wants with it.

All right here's your $1 Dennis.

- Hold on a minute.

I haven't had a chance to bid on this yet.

Dennis, I'll give you $2 just to keep it in the family.

- $2?

You, Mitchell, for that worthless piece of tin?

All right Dennis, here, I'll give you $3.

- Mr. Wilson if you objected to my $2 why would you offer $3?

- Well let's just say for sentimental reasons.

That's all, Mitchell.

And you stay out of this

- I bid $4.

- $4.25.

- $4.50. - $5.

- All right, Mr. Wilson, the coin is yours.

- $5!

Oh boy, wait'll Tommy see's this!

- Well, now I'll be blessed with good fortune.

I consider this quite a bargain for $5.

- It cost you $6.

- $6?

- Counting the dollar I arranged for Dennis

to find this morning.

I took it out of your wallet.

- You, you, you arranged this?

- And Alice and I put the prizes in that box of cookies.

And we caught a frog in the park and put him in Sam's box.

- You mean those things are all a, a, a frame up!

- Just part of a joke we were playing.

- Well I certainly fail to see the humor in it.

What was the point to this, this charade?

- It was very unfair the way you took advantage of Dennis.

I thought it would do you good to be fooled.

- Great Scot!

Bamboozled by my own wife.

- I hope you're not angry, Mr. Wilson.

- Angry!

That doesn't begin to describe how I feel.

I'm, I'm (LAUGHS) I'm just a great big boob, that's

what I am.

- You see, it's doing you good already.

- I'll return the $5 you gave Dennis of course.

- Now Mitchell.

I wouldn't hear of it.

You know, it's about time someone

brought me to my senses.

Why I was actually beginning to believe

in all this superstitious nonsense.

- You're a good sport, George.

- Oh.

- Alice, I just finished making a cheesecake.

Will you and Henry come over and try it?

- Oh we'd love to! - Good idea!

We'll all make a little party out of it.

Come on.

[door closing]

- Well I might as well throw this silly thing away

so it doesn't remind me of my stupidity.

- Hi folks!

Tommy wasn't home so I'll have to wait and show him.

- Well, here it goes.

- Hey, Mr. Wilson.

Why'd you throw your lucky piece away?

- Well Dennis.

I discovered it really isn't lucky.

- Sure it is. It got me this $5.

- It's worn out.

It's lost its power.

- That's too bad.

Hey Mr. Wilson.

Look!

That man's picking up your lucky piece!

[car driving]

[honking horn]

- Why good heavens!

That poor man almost got killed.

- But he had your lucky piece.

Sure is a good thing he had it.

- Oh nonsense Dennis.

I just hope he won't be as gullible as I was.

- Did you see that?

Great Scot that thing is lucky after all!

Hey you! Mister!

Hey! Wait!

You! Wait!

[theme music]

- This has been a Screen Gems film production

from the Hollywood studios of Columbia Pictures.