01x06 - Dennis' Garden

[bunniefuu]

[music playing]

[door slams shut]

-Hey, Dad.

You know how you always say
I don't bring things back?

Look, I brought back the pliers.

-Well, good for you, son.

What did you need
the pliers for?

-I've been over at
Margaret's house

doing a job for her mother.

-Ah, that's a good boy.

What did she ask you to do?

-She didn't ask me.

I thought of it myself.

I tuned her piano.

[music playing]

[theme music]

[music playing]

-Hey, look!

Here comes rhinoceros.

-Yeah!

-Kah-pow!
-Kah-pow!

-We got her.

-Yeah!

-(SINGING) Oh, them
golden slippers.

Oh, them golden slippers.

Lead--

-Don't sh**t, Tommy,
it's only a warthog.

-Yeah.

-The fearest animals must be in
some other part of the jungle.

-As a matter of fact,
boys, I saw a wild tiger

and a couple of lions
way down the street,

past Margaret's house.

Why don't you go check on it?

-'Cause that'd be
dumb, Mr. Wilson.

-Oh, it would?

-Sure, that's a
middle of the ocean.

-Oh!

-You chopping up the
ground again, Mr. WIlson?

-Uh-ha.

-Good old Mr. WIlson likes
to chop up the ground.

-How come?

-I guess he likes tender ground.

Do you want us to move that
wheelbarrow closer, Mr. Wilson?

-Boys, I'm going a special
garden for a special reason.

So I'm going to
ask you to stay out

of this entire area for a while.

You may use the front
sidewalk, of course.

-Yeah, on account that it
belongs to the city anyways.

-Hey, yes.

But I'm going to ask you
not to come on my property.

-Do you want to see how me and
Tommy can climb this fence?

-I do not.

If you want to come over
here, walk around, the way

you're supposed to.

-OK!

-Oh!

Oh, no, no!

Boys, no!

All right, boys.

Now that you're here.

Boys, boys!

Boys, now that you're
here, stay right beside me.

Stay out of that.

Come, come over here, where
I can keep my eye on you.

-Boy, that sure is a swell
wheelbarrow, Mr. WIlson.

-Yes, I know it is.

You just stay away from it.

It's full of plant food.

-What time do you feed
the plants, Mr. Wilson?

-Oh, no special time.

-Do plants have teeth?

-Of course, not.

Look, boys, really.

I'm Quite busy.

-You want us to move
the wheelbarrow closer?

-No!

-If plants don't have teeth,
how do they eat the food?

-Boys, if I let you bring
the wheelbarrow over here,

will you both go
home and let me work?

-Sure, Mr. WIlson!

-Ah, ah, ah.

Just a minute.

Now, if you spill one ounce of
that plant food on the lawn,

I want both to know
your parents are

going to get a
report about you that

will get you in
very bad trouble.

-We won't spill it.

[music playing]

-Careful, Tommy.

[music playing]

-Boy, that sure is a swell
wheelbarrow, Mr. Wilson.

You want us to put it back
where it was for some reason?

-No, thank you.

Goodbye, boys.

-Yeah, well, goodbye, I guess.

[music playing]

-My god!

Boys, what-- oh
for heaven sakes.

-So, Mitchell, you'll just
have to keep Dennis out

of my flowers.

The garden club awards
are coming up soon,

and I'm trying to
get ready for them.

-Couldn't you just put a lock
on your gate, Mr. Wilson?

I'd be happy to pay for it.

-Oh, good heaven.

I've tried that several times.

All he does is
climb over the fence

and ask me if I know
my gate's locked.

-I'll just have to find
something to keep him occupied.

-Yeah.

-He's been asking
for a tool chest.

-Oh, no!

Can you imagine
tools in the hands

of a little-- alert
boy like Dennis.

I mean, you know how well
he does with his bare hands.

-Yes, I know.

-Well, he's asleep.

Oh, you should see him with
that little foot sticking out

under the covers.

-Alice, Mr. Wilson's
been telling me--

-Yes, I know.

Dennis has been
helping him again.

-Well, he's got to stop.

The garden club
is coming up soon.

And Mr. Wilson feels he
can do much better alone.

-I'm sure he can.

You won a prize for your
dahlias last year, didn't you?

-Oh, fourth.

The same as the year before.

But this year, I'm going
all out for the blue ribbon.

Eh, don't you tell Mrs.
Wilson when she gets back.

She's gone to visit
her sister, you know.

But I've got some
dahlia bulbs coming

all the way from Seattle.

It cost $ apiece.

-$ dahlia bulbs?

-Yes, sir.

And I worked in that
dahlia bed till you

could grow broom handles in it.

So you see how important
it is to me that Dennis--

-Oh, of course I do.

Henry, if Dennis does anything
to spoil Mr. WIlson's flower

bed, why we'll just simply
have to-- punish him.

-Well, I agree.

But I still say the
best way to keep

him away is to keep him busy.

-Yes, keep him busy.

What about a little
flower garden of his own?

-Well, he does love flowers.

-Oh, Mitchell.

if that does the job, I'll
dig the garden myself.

I'll plant it.
I'll water it three times a day.

I'll even come over at
night and watch for snails.

-(LAUGHING).

Well, you won't have
to do that, Mr. Wilson.

But we would appreciate any
suggestions you might have.

-Oh!

-We'll need a few things.

-Oh, sure.

Well, you go over to
old Merrivale's nursery,

and tell him I sent you.

But you be careful.

You know, that
gossipy old bandit

has been know to steal the socks
right off from under his best

friend.

[laughing]

-All right, we'll
do that, George.

-[laughs] Good.

-Oh, Dennis will be so thrilled.

You know, I almost
feel like waking him up

to tell him about it.

-Hey, oh, no!

Eh, I mean, I want to keep the
picture of that little foot

sticking out from under the
covers. (LAUGHING AWKWARDLY)

-Well--

-Thanks, Mitchell.

And good night all.

[music playing]

-Hey, mister.

You got any wheelbarrows?

-Over there.

[music playing]

-How come it's
standing on its head?

-Little boy, don't you do
nothing but ask questions?

-Dennis, you shouldn't
run ahead of me like that.

I hope he hasn't
been bothering you.

-Oh, no, not at all.

That's a fine little
boy you've got there.

Now, eh, is there something
that I can do for you?

-Oh, yes.

Dennis and I are going to
plant a little flower garden.

And we'll need a few things.

-He is very much interested
in that wheelbarrow.

-Gee, Dad, can I have it?

-Oh, no, Dennis.

Our neighbor has
one we can borrow.

-Yeah, but he won't let
anybody drive it but him.

-No, Dennis.

I believe our neighbor's a
friend of yours, Mr. Merrivale.

-Golly, is this Mr. Merrivale?

-Dennis, you're interrupting.

-His name is Wilson,
George Wilson.

-I know him.

He sent away to Seattle
for dahlia bulbs.

-Yes, that's the one.

Well, Mr. Wilson
and I and Dennis

are gro-- Dennis,
what are you doing?

-Waiting for Mr. Merrivale
to ring his cash register.

-Why?
-So I can see it.

-See what?

-Mr. WIlson says Mr.
Merrivale has still

got the first penny
he ever earned.

Boy, I'll bet it's
a years old.

-That's enough, Dennis.

I'm sure Mr. Wilson never
said anything of the kind.

-I heard him say it
several times, Dad.

He says, Mr. Merrivale
steals people's socks

ans he still has the first
penny he ever earned.

-Go over and look
at the flowers.

-Gee, Dad.

Do I have to?

-Yes, yes.

-Dad?

Yes?
HENRY MITCHELL (OFFSCREEN): Yes?

-Call me if he opens
his cash register.

[music playing]

-Boy, this sure is going to be
a dinky little garden, Dennis.

-Yeah, but it's going
to go down quite a ways.

-How far?

-Clear to China, maybe?

-Do you know [inaudible]?

-Sure.

We even gotta make sure
the roots don't stick out,

make people stumble
around down there.

-Hi, Tommy.

Do you want to help
Dennis dig his garden?

-No, thank you, Mr. Mitchell.

-You're missing out
on a lot of fun.

-Ha, no, I'm not.

Bye, Dennis.

-Bye, Tommy.

I'm gonna have the best garden
in the whole world, huh, Dad?

-Ha, maybe.

But it's going to take
a lot of hard work.

-I know it.

[music playing]

-Hi, Mitchell.

Oh, my goodness!

Look at that!

(LAUGHING)

-I think we found the answer.

-Oh, good.

I'm sorry I'm late, Mitchell.

But I had a big fight
with old Marrivale.

It seems some little boy
was in there this morning

and said a few things--

-Um.

-Dennis?

-I'm afraid so.

But it was entirely innocent.

-(CHORTLING) That's
all right, Mitchell.

That old goat had
it coming to him.

If Dennis wasn't so
busy, I'd shake his hand.

You know, when he, he told me
that the little boy was waiting

to see the first
penny he ever made,

I thought I'd-- (LAUGHING)

[music playing]

-Lemonade.

-Oh, well, I certainly
could use some.

Might as well turn off
the water, Mitchell.

-I'll do it!

[crashing sound]

-Well, they say, water's
better for you anyway.

-Ah, I suppose so.
Here, Mitchell.

-No, go ahead.

-Oh.

[music playing]

-From my own garden, Mitchell.

-They look a little like
dried up sweet potatoes to me.

-Well, I know.

But never mind what
they look like now.

Wait till you see the dahlias.

-$ a piece, it seems to me
that even the bulb should have

a little personality.

-Why, Mitchell?

How can you think of money when
you look at a beautiful flower?

Why it's-- it's irreverent.

-Oh, sorry I believe
I know how you feel.

-Besides, I don't give a
hang about the expense.

This is going to be
George Wilson's year.

And nothing is going to stop me
from winning that blue ribbon.

DENNIS (OFFSCREEN): Hi!

-With one possible exception.

-How come you're planting
those scraggly-looking

sweet potatoes, Mr. Wilson?

-Well, with the right kind
of sweet potatoes, Dennis,

I might win myself
a sweet prize.

-Never mind about the
sweet potatoes, Dennis.

Just remember, if
you do anything

to spoil Mr. Wilson's garden,
you'll be in real bad trouble.

Now, is that clear?

-Gee, sure.

-OK.

Run along and play.

-OK.

I'm sorry that I said
your sweet potatoes were

scraggly, Mr. WIlson.

[music playing]

-Mom, could Tommy
and me have an apple?

-Tommy and I.

-Yeah, but how about me?

-(LAUGHING) They're
in one of those bags.

-Whee, look at the
sweet potatoes.

-I've some sweet
potatoes before.

-Me too.

Mr. Wilson just planted
some real scraggly ones

in his garden.

-Yeah, that Mr. Wilson
sure is a goofy man.

-He is not!

-He is too!

-He is not!

He helps little kids
build their gardens.

-Sure, but he snitches to
your folks all the time.

-Yeah.

Well, he can't help it
that he is a tattletale.

-What are you gonna do
with those sweet potatoes?

-I'm gonna plant them
in Mr. Wilson's garden,

so he could win a big prize.

-Won't he get sore?

-Heck, no.

Dad told me not to spoil
Mr. WIlson's garden.

Now, this is going
to make it better.

[music playing]

-What are you gonna do with
these old scraggly ones,

Dennis?

-I don't know.

Maybe we'll have
them for supper.

Wait till good old
Mr. WIlson sees

what comes up from
those sweet potatoes.

[music playing]

[water running]

[music playing]

-Dennis?

-Yeah, Mom?

-Dennis, what on
earth are you doing?

-Lying under the sink.

-Well, I can see that.

But why are you
lying under the sink?

-I like hearing
the water go past.

-Well, never mind that.

Come on up now.

Dennis, do you know
anything about these?

-Sure.

Those are Mr. Wilson's
sweet potatoes.

-What are they doing here?

-Well, Mr. Wilson planted
the scraggly once,

so I dug them up and put
in the once you bought.

-Do you know what you've done?
-Sure!

I took out scraggly ones
and put in good ones.

-How could you do such a thing?

-It was easy.

I knew right where
he planted them.

-That's not what I mean.

Dennis, these are dahlia
bulbs, not sweet potatoes.

Mr. Wilson paid $
apiece for them.

Jeez, is somebody in trouble?

-Somebody certainly is.

-What are you going
to tell Mr. Wilson?

-Well, I'll just tell him that--
I-- I'll simply explain to him.

(SIGHING) I think
I'll take the bulbs up

and put them on
the service porch.

And let your father tell him.

-I know you wanted to
help good old Mr. Wilson.

We all want to help
good old Mr. WIlson.

-I did everything I could.

-You certainly did.

You took out his dahlia bulbs
and put in sweet potatoes.

Now, I'm going to have to
take those bulbs back and try

and explain what happened.

-Can I go watch television?

Or do you want to
shout at me some more?

-They'll be no television
for you tonight, young man.

I want you to go
right up to your room

and think about what
you've done to Mr. WIlson.

-Your father's right, Dennis.

I'll bring your dinner
up to you on a tray.

-Would an extra dessert be too
heavy to carry upstairs, Mom?

-Tonight, you get no dessert.

-Come on, run along, young man.

-Just what are you going
to tell Mr. Wilson, Henry?

-Well, I'll just
tell him that-- Well,

I'll explain to him that--
I'll just tell him that--

-That's where I got stuck.

-We've got to get those
bulbs back to him.

I don't know how I'm
going to face him.

I just haven't got
the heart to tell him.

Besides, he'll be so upset, he
will never speak to us again.

-And after all the help he's
been with Dennis' garden.

-Wait a minute?

Why do I have to
tell him anything?

-You mean, just to hand
him the bulbs and run?

-No, I'll wait till Mr.
Wilson goes to bed tonight.

Then I'll sneak over
and replant the bulbs.

-It's a wonderful idea.

Then he'll never even
know they were gone.

-That's just what I'll do.

It may not be as
bad as we thought.

[music playing]

-I've got to go plant Mr.
Wilson's flowers back for him.

[music playing]
[thud]

[music playing]
[thud]

[music playing]
[thud]

[music playing]
[thud]

[music playing]
[window squeaking]

[music playing]

-Who's that?

-Meow.

-Shoo, stop.

Come on, get out of here.

Stop.
[rock hitting ground]

-Shoo.

Stop.

And stay away!

Oh!
[window squeaking and shutting]

[music playing]
[thud]

[music playing]
[window squeaking]

[music playing]

-Blasted cat!
Oh!

I'll fix him this time.

[water splashing]

[music playing]

-Henry, you're drenched!

-Wilson set my
sinuses back years.

At least I got the
dahlia problem settled.

[music playing]

-Dennis, I found an
extra crawl you can use.

Dennis?

Hm.

Oh, Mitchell must have got
Dennis some dahlia bulbs.

Hey, they look good too.

Ha.

I'll just stick them in for him.

[music playing]

-I-- I just don't
understand it, Merrivale.

I paid $ apiece
for those bulbs.

-Yeah, that was
very clever of you.

My wife never pays more
than cents a pound.

-For dahlia bulbs?

-Sweet potatoes.

-Dennis?

-I put the bulbs back, Dad.

-You put them back?

I put them back!

-Who put what back where?

-Well, Dennis thought you
planted sweet potatoes.

So he took them out
and replaced them

with what he thought were
better sweet potatoes.

[laughing]

-What?

-I came over and took
out the sweet potatoes.

No, I took out the bulbs.

Then I actually put
in the sweet potatoes,

took the dahlia bulbs, and
put them on our service porch.

-(LAUGHING) Well,
well, well, who planted

them in the little boy's garden?

-I did!

[music playing]

-To little Dennis Mitchell, goes
the blue ribbon for dahlias.

[applause]

-Thank you very much!

Lady?

-Yes, Dennis?

-Is it OK if I give it
to a friend of mine?

-Well, it's yours to
do with as you wish.

-Thank you!

Hey, Mr. WIlson!

-He did a beautiful job.

Forgive us if we hurry on.

We have more
ribbons to bestow.

-Of course.

-So, good bye!

-Good bye!

-Oh, no, Dennis, no.

It's yours.

-Ah-ah.

You bought them and
you planted them.

-Well, just the same, I--
-Mr. Wilson?

-(UNSURE) Yeah?

-To Mr. George Wilson for
introducing at his garden

the lushness of sweet potato
vines for ground cover.

Blue ribbon for originality.

-Oh, well, thank you!
Oh!

-Congratulations, Mr. WIlson.

-Thank you very much!

-Will you forgive us?

We have more
ribbons to bestow.

-Oh, well, yes, of course.

-Good bye.

-Goodbye and thanks again.

Dennis?

-Yeah, Mr. WIlson?

-How would you
like me to take you

for a ride in my wheelbarrow?

-Oh, boy!

-Come on!

Here comes the sweet
potato special!

[music playing]
-Here and--

[music playing]