Original subtitles

- Who's that funny looking guy, dad?

- That's your Uncle Bud, and that's

the car I smashed up for him.

- Smashed up? - Yeah.

I was just a kid pretending to drive,

and somehow I released the break.

And the car rolled down the driveway into the garage

and tore the door right off the hinges.

- Jeepers, were you hurt?

- No, but boy, I was scared.

I made Bud promise not to tell Dad.

- But did he ever find out what really happened?

- Yes, he did.

When-- when he saw the car and lit into Bud, I--

I told him, of course, but, well, Bud hadn't said a word.

He kept his promise.

- That sure was nice of Uncle Bud, wasn't it?

- Yes, it was, but I think a better word is loyal.

When Uncle Bud made a promise, he kept it.

- I guess I take after Uncle Bud, dad, because I'm loyal, too.

I always keep my promises.

- Well, I'm glad to hear that, son.

I hope you're always loyal to your family and your friends.

- Are you loyal, dad?

- Well, I-- I think so.

I try to be.

- Swell, because today's the day, you

promised to take me downtown and show

me that super automatic self-loading missile gun.

- But-- well, OK.

I guess if I can shoot my mouth off,

you can shoot off a missile gun.

Come on.

[theme song]

- That missile gun's the greatest, dad.

Are you going to buy it for me?

It only costs $5.

- Dennis, I told you I'd pay for half of it.

You can get it when you've saved your half of the money.

- I got a dollar and a half in my piggy bank.

- Then you're going to need one more dollar.

[music playing]

- Hey, look, Dad, Mrs. Elkins.

- This is Mrs. Elkins campaign headquarters.

She's running for assembly woman.

- Yeah, she made a speech to the school yesterday,

and she told us to be sure and remind our parents to vote.

- Getting to the kids, huh?

That's pretty smart.

- Well, I don't know, Dad.

What if the kids reminded their parents

to vote for somebody else?

- Well, you've got a point there.

- Can we go in, dad, and see what's going on?

- Well, OK.

But just for a minute, son.

- Well I hope you can, Agnes.

Every vote counts.

Henry!

I'll talk to you later.

- Hi, Mrs. Elkins.

We just dropped by to with you luck.

- Yeah.

Boy, Mrs. Elkins, you must be getting real famous.

Everywhere I go, I see your face staring out at me.

- That's great.

She'll appreciate that.

Goodbye.

Just a second, boys.

- So you see, I have my hands full.

- Excuse me, Lucy.

I set that lady's club thing for Friday.

- Oh, fine.

Thanks.

Henry, you know Mr. Adams, cashier of the bank.

- Yes, of course. How are you, Mr. Adams?

- Mr. Adams is kindly donating his services

as my campaign manager.

Aren't you, Oliver?

- Glad to do it, Lucy.

Oh, excuse me.

All right, boys.

Be here tomorrow right after school,

and I'll assign you a territory.

- How much are we going to get for delivering

these circulars, Mr. Adams?

- You'll each get a dollar, probably

the easiest dollar you ever made.

- Did you hear that, dad?

- Come on, son. Bye, Mrs. Elkins.

- Thank you for coming.

- Just make sure you're on time, boys.

- Wait a minute, dad.

That's how I can make that dollar, delivering

circulars tomorrow afternoon after school.

Ask him, dad.

Ask Mrs. Elkins.

- Ask me what, Dennis?

- Can I deliver some circulars too, Mrs. Elkins?

- Dennis-- - I don't know, Dennis.

I mean--

- I'll work real hard, Mrs. Elkins.

Honest I will.

- But we're using boys of 14 and over.

You're so young, I don't know whether we

can depend on boys of your age.

- Sure you can.

Golly, I--

- Don't be a pest, Dennis.

Maybe next election time you can deliver some.

Bye, Mrs. Elkins.

- I'm sorry about the circulars, Dennis,

but thank you for your willingness to help.

- You welcome.

But I was willing to make a dollar, too.

- Think you can work out here, dear?

- What choice have I?

I can't work inside with the house

all torn up for paper hangars, carpenters, and painters.

- Now, dear, it won't last forever.

- My publisher told me on the phone

that he would be here tomorrow afternoon at 4 o'clock.

Now why you had to pick this time--

- Dear, we didn't know that until he telephoned us this morning,

and I'd already ordered the paper hangars.

- Everything all topsy-turvy!

- Now dear, don't you worry.

You can have your conference tomorrow

right here on the patio.

It'll be nice and quite, and I'll serve tea,

and everything will be lovely.

Mr.Winfield will understand.

- Well, I'd better get at it.

He thinks I have this article on Tahiti finished,

and I'm not half done.

- Well, you just stop worrying and get started on your work.

- All right, Eloise.

- If you want anything, dear, just yell.

- "In the dazzling splendor of a Tahitian sunset,

I watched a mother tenderly caress

her brown-skinned infant."

Well, not bad, not bad.

"The infant--"

[tapping sound]

[tapping sound]

[tapping sound]

[tapping sound]

- Ah ha!

Caught you, didn't I!

Go south!

It's time!

[tapping sound]

[tapping sound]

[tapping sound]

Dennis!

Must you make so much noise?

- I'm sorry, Mr. Wilson.

- Well, I don't mean to snap at you, Dennis,

but I'm trying desperately to get some work done.

What are you looking so glum about?

- Aw, it's that Mrs. Elkins.

She won't let me deliver circulars for a dollar tomorrow

afternoon after school because she

thinks I'm too young to be depended on,

and dad won't let me get a swell new missile

gun until I pay my half.

- Well, I've got problems with my own.

- Now I'll have to stick around the house all tomorrow

afternoon with nothing to do.

- Oh, you'll think of something.

- Hey, I know.

I could build my new tree house right there in my yard.

And maybe if you have time, you could help me, Mr. Wilson.

- No, I can tell you tomorrow afternoon, Dennis, I--

a tree house there in the yard?

Oh, no, Dennis.

I can't have hammering going on around here tomorrow afternoon.

My publisher is coming over, and I

have to have a conference with him.

It's very important.

We're going over contracts.

He's reviewing an article I'm writing.

It's-- oh, tomorrow afternoon-- tomorrow afternoon,

you are delivering circulars.

- But Mrs. Elkins said--

- Is it all right with your parents?

- Oh, sure.

- Then don't worry about Mrs. Elkins.

I'll take care of her.

My car's in the garage.

- Jeepers, Mr. Wilson, you sure are a good friend.

I just tell you my troubles, and right away you

drop everything and help me out.

[music playing]

- Mrs. Elkins, how can you doubt this boy's dependability?

I assure you, Mrs. Elkins, Dennis

is both dependable and loyal.

Isn't that right, Dennis?

- Yes, sir.

Loyalty runs in my family.

My Uncle Bud was a real--

- Uh, um, yes-- um, what about it, Mrs. Elkins?

Does Dennis get the job?

- Well, I'd like to give Dennis the job, but--

- When you refuse him only because of age,

you are discriminating, and that's bad.

- Indeed?

It's a pity you didn't have such lofty sentiments last month.

- Last month?

- When I called on you in my appeal for campaign funds.

You spoke quite differently then.

- Well, I-- uh--

- I believe you said, "Women, they

ought to stick to their kitchen sinks."

That sounds discriminatory to me, Mr. Wilson.

- Oh, well, I'm sorry about that, Mrs. Elkins.

I, uh, wasn't myself that day.

But I feel differently now.

- Really?

Well, I had you down for $25, Mr. Wilson.

- $25? - Yes.

Of course, I know you'd like to give more,

but Mr. Howard on your block gave $25,

and if I asked you for more, he might

think I was discriminating.

- Uh, $25.

There's $25.

Now, what about Dennis?

- Well, in view of your generous contribution,

I suppose I can make an exception.

Dennis, you be here tomorrow afternoon,

and mind you do a good job.

- I will.

Thanks a lot, Mrs. Elkins.

Oh, boy, I'm gonna make that dollar after all.

- Well, let's get out of here before she has you contributing

that dollar to her campaign fund.

[music playing]

- How long do you think it'll take

you to deliver your circulars tomorrow, Dennis?

You missed.

- I don't know, Tommy, but mom says

I have to be home before dark.

- Ah, mom's are all alike. "Be home before dark.

Be home before dark."

First they want you to be home before dark,

then they tell you not to be afraid of the dark.

- Yeah, parents sure get things mixed up, all right.

- Boy, I wish I could make a dollar delivering circulars

tomorrow.

Reckon I could?

- Well, I don't know, Tommy.

You're too young.

- What do you mean, too young?

I was born the same day you were.

- Yeah, you were born 4:30 in the afternoon,

and I was born 4:30 that morning.

- Oh, yeah.

- Mrs. Elkins thought I was too young,

but good old Mr. Wilson fixed that up for me.

- Well, maybe I could help you deliver your circulars.

I'll help you for $0.25.

- I don't need any help, Tommy.

- Please, Dennis?

I gotta have some money by Saturday.

It's mom's birthday, and I wanted

to get her something for a surprise.

- Well, all right.

Jeepers, what can you get good for a quarter?

- Not much, but I can get her something good for $0.50.

- Well, all right, Tommy, but that's all you can have.

- Jeepers, if I paid you anymore, I'd been working for you.

- All right, boys, I divide the circulars into batches,

and on each one you'll see a boy's name

and the territory he's to cover.

For instance, this one says "Charles Lang, Plummer Street,

West to Flower Avenue, north on Flower

all the way to the lake."

All right, Tully, this is yours.

Now then, any questions?

- Yeah.

Charlie can't swim.

What if he falls in the lake?

- Hah hah.

- Very funny, McNulty.

Now then, when you finish, report

back here, OK, that's it.

Now then, let's do a bang up, crackerjack job.

Off with you.

Come on, let's go. - Psst!

Dennis!

- Tommy, where have you been?

- Aw, mom's giving me a bad time.

She says because my grades are low,

I have to stay in every afternoon and study,

but I sneaked out.

Come on, let's get to work.

- Jeepers, Tommy, do you think you should?

- Well, I've got to.

It's my only chance to earn money

for my mom's birthday present.

- Well, I guess it's all right.

- But you got to promise you won't

tell a should about me sneaking out to help you.

- I promise.

- Cross your heart?

- Tommy, when I make a promise, I keep it.

That's being loyal.

Come on!

[music playing]

- Hey, you!

Hey, kid, do me a favor, change territories with me, huh?

- What do you want to do that for?

- Well, I met my girlfriend, and she

lives in the territory you've got.

And if you'd swap with me, I could walk her home.

- Gee, I don't know.

- Ah, what's the difference as long

as the circulars get delivered?

Besides, it's a good deal for you.

Your territory's full of hills.

- Well, all right.

- Thanks, kid.

See you around.

- Boy, what a dope, swapping a good territory just

to walk home with a girl.

- Yeah, but maybe he's not to dopey.

- Well, what do you mean?

- Well, he probably just wants his girlfriend

to help him deliver his circulars.

Come on.

- How you doing, Tommy?

- OK.

I'll bet I'm through before you are.

- I bet you're not!

[music playing]

- How to succeed in business without really trying.

[music playing]

[baby crying]

- Boy, I'm pooped.

We sure did that fast. - Yeah.

Come on, let's go get our money.

- You go get it.

I got to rush home before my mom finds out I'm not in my room.

And don't forget your promise not to tell on me.

- Jeepers, Tommy, suppose your mom did find out.

You did it for her.

She wouldn't have any reason to get mad.

- Are you kiddin'?

Since when do parents need a reason to get mad.

I'll see you later Dennis.

- Bye, Tommy.

- You know, Dennis, you're the first one back.

How did you get done so quickly?

- Well, I had Tom-- well, I mean, I just worked fast.

- You must have, but you did a bang up, crackerjack job,

I hope.

- Oh, yes sir, I sure did.

- Fine.

- Thanks, Mr. Adams.

- Don't mention it, son.

You earned it.

It's good to earn money by doing honest work, isn't it?

Gives you a good feeling, right?

- You bet.

It gives you a real bang up, crackerjack feeling.

- I found them right here just about an hour ago.

- Dennis Mitchell.

Well, of all!

- I just thought you ought to know, Mrs. Elkins.

I mean, you won't get many votes this way.

- Well, no, I should say not.

I knew in my bones I should've said no to Dennis.

Well, thank you very much.

- Well, you're very welcome.

- It was a great afternoon.

That publisher of mine really flipped over my article,

actually flipped.

I had no trouble with the contract after that.

- Hah!

That's wonderful, John.

- We're so happy for you.

- And when he said, "Wilson, this calls for bonus,"

then I flipped.

- [laughing]

- Oh, by the way, Mr. Wilson, I don't

believe we thanked you for arranging it

so that Dennis could deliver the circulars.

He's out working now, and he's tickled pink about it.

- Oh, nonsense.

It was a pleasure to get him out of the-- get him out

of the-- job, give the boy a chance

to earn some money for himself.

[doorbell]

- I'll get it.

Excuse me.

Why, Mrs. Elkins, come in.

- Hello, Henry.

- Hello, Mrs. Elkins.

Won't you come in and sit down?

- No, thank you.

Oh, I see you have company.

- Oh, yes.

Mr. Wilson came over to give us some very good news.

- Well, I with I could do the same.

Is, um, is Dennis home?

- No, he isn't.

Well, what is it, Mrs. Elkins?

Is something wrong?

- Oh, Alice, I don't know how to say this.

Here, see for yourself.

- I don't understand.

- What-- you mean you think that Dennis?

- These were found in an ash barrel on Bradford Street.

That was Dennis's territory.

His name is right on them, and Mr. Adams

said he finished and was back long

before the other boys were.

- Well, I don't understand this at all.

Why would Dennis do a thing like that?

- Oh, now, just a minute.

That's ridiculous.

Dennis is too fine a boy to do any--

- Excuse me, John.

Mrs. Elkins, I assure you, when Dennis returns home,

we'll get to the bottom of this.

- Yes.

He may have some very logical explanation.

I hope so.

Well, I must get back to my campaign headquarters.

- Oh, Mrs. Elkins, could you leave those with us, please?

- Oh, certainly.

I want you to know I feel just awful about this.

Of course, in a way, it was my fault.

I knew Dennis was pretty young, but I was unduly influenced.

- Yes, $25 worth.

- Oh, dear.

What do you think?

- Could be our son's first attempt

to get something for nothing.

- You know, Mrs. Elkins might be right.

I was responsible for his getting the job,

and if he's in trouble, then I'm partly to blame.

- Oh, come now, John.

You couldn't possibly have had any idea

that Dennis was going to--

DENNIS (OFFSCREEN): Hey, mom!

Hey, dad!

Oh, hi, Mr. Wilson.

Hey, dad, guess what Stevie Austin got.

A new box kite.

Boy, I bet we had it up there about a thousand feet.

- Dennis, those circulars you delivered this afternoon?

- I got my dollar.

- Never mind.

Son, did you deliver them conscientiously?

I mean, did you--

- Did I good off, you mean?

- That's exactly what I mean.

Did you goof off?

- Well, I didn't quite deliver all of the circulars.

- You didn't?

- No.

You see, it was somebody's birth-- uh, well, uh,

I just kept one for souvenir.

- Do you recognize these?

- They're mine.

I mean, they were mine, but I swapped

with a guy who wanted to be with his girl.

- You swapped with a guy?

Who?

- I don't know.

- You don't know?

- His name was McNutty or something like that.

- McNutty? - Yeah.

- Jeepers, what's everybody looking at me for?

It's the truth.

- Excuse me, Alice, Henry.

I have an idea.

- Mr. Wilson?

- Yes, Dennis?

- You think I'm telling the truth, don't you?

- I don't know.

I think so.

- Dennis, Mrs. Elkins said you were the first one back,

that you got back long before the other boys.

Now, if you delivered all the circulars,

how do you explain that?

- Well, I guess I just found a way to deliver circulars fast.

- How could you deliver the circulars faster

than the older boys?

- I can't talk about that, dad.

- Well, you're going to deliver these fast, and right now.

- But dad--

- No buts, Dennis.

Just get going.

- Honey, it's a little chilly out.

Maybe he should take a sweater.

- All right, son. Run up and get your sweater.

- Jeepers, dad, I--

- We'll discuss it when you get home!

Honey, what could I do?

His fairy stories about finding ways

of delivering circulars faster, swapping territories with a kid

he couldn't even remember.

- That's right, Mr. Adams.

Can you give me the names of all of those boys?

Yes, Johnny Lang, Dennis Mitchell, Richard Tanner,

Ted McNulty-- that's it, McNulty.

Do you know where he lives?

Oh, good, good.

That's right nearby.

Thank you.

[music playing]

- And may I please have the dollar you got form Mr. Adams?

It's time you learned that you don't get anything

in this world without earning it.

- Except a balling out.

- Never mind.

Just yesterday you were telling me how loyal you are.

You think it's loyal to throw Mrs. Elkins's

circulars in an ash can?

- How about you, dad?

You said you were loyal, too, and a loyal dad

ought to believe his kid when he tells him something.

And I tell you I-- wait a minute.

I'm going to call Tommy.

- Let him call, dear.

[phone ringing]

- Hello?

- Hello, Tommy?

- Oh, hi, Dennis.

Hey, you don't have to keep your promise anymore.

Mom knows I sneaked out.

- Tommy, I want you to tell my dad

that we did deliver those circulars.

Will you, Tommy?

And tell him how I swapped with that kid,

and how I got through fast because you helped, and I

promised not to tell on you.

Go ahead, Tommy.

Here, dad.

- Yes, Tommy, I'm listening.

- Hey, take it easy, will ya?

- I don't care how many dates you have this afternoon,

Mr. McNulty. This comes first.

- Yes, Tommy.

Yes, thank you.

Thank you, I understand.

Thank you very much.

- I'll see you tomorrow, Tommy.

Hey, did your mom give you a licking?

- Nah.

She wasn't half as mad as I thought she'd be.

- Boy, that's swell.

Bye.

- Oh, Dennis, we're so ashamed.

- We misjudged you, son.

Knowing you the way we do, we should have believed you.

- Can you forgive us, dear?

- That's OK.

Boy, the way I told that story, I almost

didn't believe it myself.

[doorbell]

- Friends, meet Ted McNulty, alias McNutty, trash barrel

filler deluxe.

Ted has something to say to you, Dennis.

- I'm sorry I got you into trouble, kid.

I'll explain everything to Mrs. Elkins.

- Thanks, McNutty.

- My name's NcNulty.

- Aren't you forgetting something, lad?

The circulars?

- Oh, yeah.

- And don't plan on seeing your girlfriend this time.

- Thank you, John.

- I guess he really was gone on that girl of his.

- Boy, how can a guy get that way about a girl?

- Well, it's hard to explain, Dennis.

It has something to do with, uh, chemistry.

- Chemistry?

Jeepers, I'll tell you one thing.

I'm not going to take chemistry in school

if that's what it does to you.

[laughter]

- Come on, Tommy.

You better step on it or we'll be late for school.

- Yeah.

So like I was saying, instead of giving me a licking,

mom kisses me.

Boy, I can't figure her out.

- If you think she's hard to understand, what about my dad?

He took my dollar away, then this morning

he gives me two dollars back.

- What was the other dollar for?

- That's just it.

First he says you can't get anything

in this world for nothing, then for no reason at all,

he gives me an extra dollar.

Boy, you can really go crazy trying to figure parents out.

Yeah.

[theme music]

ANNOUNCER: This has been seen a Screen Gems film production.