02x31 - Dennis and the Camera

[bunniefuu]

-Boy, those are the swellest
uniforms I ever saw!

What else do scouts do besides
collect old newspapers?

-Oh, we camp out,
and learn first aid,

and how to take care of
ourselves, and stuff like that.

-Boy, that sounds swell.

How'd you win all those medals?

-They're merit badges.

-What are merit badges?

-Things you get
for doing projects.

-Boy.

Hey, what's that patch for?

-Oh, that's to show we
belong to the Wolf Patrol.

When we get separated in the
woods, we use the wolf call.

-What's the wolf call for?

-That's so we can tello
urselves from somebody else.

-Let me hear you call, huh.

How does it go?

-Do it for him, Dudley.

-OK.

[howling]

-Boy, that's the neatest
wolf I ever heard call.

[howling]

-Well, we've gotta go, Dennis.

-Yeah, thanks for the papers.

-Jeepers, thank you for
teaching me the wolf call.

]HOWLING]

-Boy, what a keen way to tell
yourself from somebody else.

[howling]

[theme music]

-Easy, George, easy.

The night-blooming
cereus is more delicate

than you might think.

-Oh.

Well, I'll be very
careful, Mr. Timberlake.

Your plant is in
very tender hands.

There we are.

And now tonight
when I photograph

it's nocturnal bloom against
this dark background,

it'll stand out in bold relief.

-Oh, exquisite
composition, George.

-Oh, well thank
you, Mr. Timberlake.

-I know you won't
fail the Garden Club.

-Oh, assuredly not, sir.

-Now remember, George.

If you get the photograph
to Mr. Krinkie by : AM,

he'll give us a full page of
publicity in tomorrow's paper.

-You may tell the members of
the Garden Club, Mr. Timberlake,

that George Wilson will
be alert and vigilant.

Now tonight when this shy
flower feels the darkness

and slowly unfolds
it's rare beauty

to the unappreciative
night, I shall

be here with flash
bulb and camera

ready to preserve
it for posterity.

-Spoken like a true member
of the judging committee.

-Oh, you mean?

-That's right.

-Oh.
Well, me?

Oh, Mr. Timberlake.

A member of the
judging committee.

Oh, my.

[george chuckling]

-Here's your nerve
medicine, George.

-Oh, thank you, Martha.

Yes, I'll need it to calm down.

This is a most exciting project.

-I'm sure it is.

-Well, it means a lot
to the Garden Club.

-Of course it does.

-And you'll notice, my dear,
I'm leaving nothing to chance.

I'm using two cameras.

-You always were thorough.

-Well, that's the mark of
a successful photographer.

So, if everything goes
smoothly, and something

doesn't come out of--

-Hi, Mr. Wilson!

---left field.

-Dennis, now don't
you come in here.

You stand right where you are!

-OK, Mr. Wilson, going
to take my picture?

-No, but I want to be sure I get
the picture I do want to take.

-Are you just going to take
a picture of that old thing?

-Old thing?

Good gravy.

-It's not an old thing, Dennis.

It's a very rare plant
that only blooms at night.

It's called a
night-blooming cereus.

-Why doesn't it
bloom in the daytime?

-Because it blooms at night.

-What time tonight
does it bloom?

-Oh, good grief!

Whenever it takes the
notion to, Dennis.

-What are you going to do
with a picture like that?

-Well, if Mr. Wilson
gets a good picture,

Mr. Krinkie has promised
to put it in the paper

tomorrow and give the
Garden Club some publicity.

-I sure hope you get a
good one, Mr. Wilson.

-Boy, this would
make a swell wigwam

if you covered these poles.

-Oh, Dennis.

Now, Great Scott!

Stop jiggling my tripod
and come out from there.

-Sure, Mr. Wilson.

-George, I have to start dinner.

You talk to Dennis.

-Wha-- well, we'll have a
very short conversation.

Dennis, why don't
you run on home

and then come back again
one day next month?

-But I haven't asked you
what I came over to ask ya.

-Well, all right, what
do you want to know?

-Mr. Wilson, I bet you were a
Boy Scout when you were a boy.

-Well, yes.

[stuttering]

-Well, how did you know?

-Something just told me
you'd know all about it.

-Well.

[chuckling]

-I dare say, I still
bear the stamp.

[chuckling]

-I was an Eagle Scout.

Oh, my chest was just
covered with merit badges.

-Boy, you must have
had a jillion badges.

But how'd you win
enough to cover so much?

-By doing what every good
Scout's supposed to do.

Why, I even learned to build
a fire without matches.

-Boy, building a
fire without matches.

-We even cooked our food
without any kitchen utensils.

-What'd you cook it in?

-Oh, with whatever was handy.

We were very resourceful.

Oh, my troop called
themselves the Seal Patrol.

-Did you call each other
by making like a seal?

-Oh, yes indeed!

Why, every member would
become on the double

whenever he heard another
member go like this

[barking like a seal]

-Boy, you'd make a
swell seal, Mr. Wilson.

Do it again, will ya?

-Eww waa.

Oh, that's enough.

Now you run along home.

-OK, Mr. Wilson.

I'm going to start
training to be a Cub Scout.

-Well, you go home and start.

-Would you be Den Mother
for our Wild Cub Patrol?

-Den Mo-- no!

-I thought Scouts were
supposed to help people.

-Well, yeah, that's
true, my boy.

It's just that, uh, well,
I'm keyed up at the moment.

Uh, maybe we can discuss
Scouting another time.

-We can?

Oh, boy, swell!

Thanks, Mr. Wilson!

You're a real good Scout!

-Oh!

-Going to do a little
barbecuing, Dad?

-Oh, yeah, with Mom away and
Grandma gone for the night,

I thought we'd have steaks.

-You sure like to cook
out don't ya, Dad?

-There's nothing like
getting next to nature, son.

My food always
tastes better when

it's cooked out of doors
in a simple fashion the way

the pioneers used to do
it in the good old days.

-Just like Scouts?

-Well, yeah, sort of.

Our forefathers used to
live and work out of doors.

Why, they very often
slept out under the stars.

-They did?

-Yeah, they were-- they
were rugged, healthy men.

The kind it took to build
this country of ours.

Our civilization
makes us too soft.

-Well, imagine that.

-Yeah, you know,
there was a time

when men used to
cook over fires that

were made without even a match?

-They were pretty smart in
the good old days huh, Dad?

-We could learn a lot from them.

-Well, why don't we throw
this old part of a barbecue

away, and do like the pioneers?

Why, we could even
camp out here tonight

and sleep under the stars.

-We have beds, Dennis.

-Those old beds are
what makes you soft.

And you said I could train
to be a Boy Scout huh, Dad?

-Well yes, I guess, but--

-Why, you could show me
how to cook those steaks

over a fire started
without any matches.

And I could get all
kinds of Scout training.

-But Dennis--

-All we have to do is
just what you said.

You had a real
good idea huh, Dad?

-All right.

[chuckling]

-There's a book in
the-- in the living

room on the shelf
that'll tell us

how the pioneers and
Indians used to do things.

You want to get it?

-Boy, there was nothing dopey
about those pioneers huh, Dad?

-Yeah.

I think I'm the
one that's dopey.

[pounding rocks together]

-Get any fire sparks yet, Dad?

-I think the batteries
in these rocks are dead.

-They're not even getting warm.

-All right, I'll try the
bow and spindle again.

[sighing]

-You sure did a good job of
making that fire starter.

-It creates friction the
way it's supposed to.

I did it just the
way the book said.

-Why don't I run over
and get Mr. Wilson.

He says he used to start
fires without matches.

-Good thinking, son.

After all, if he
can do it, we should

share this happy occasion.

Go, boy, go!

-This is the last bottle of
your nerve medicine, dear.

Don't take too much.

-All right, Martha.

-Excuse me, Mr. Wilson.

-Oh, what is it now, Dennis?

-Could you come over a
minute and show Dad and me

how to get our campfire
started the way you said.

-Oh.

Well, it was a long
time ago since I

was a Boy Scout, Dennis.

And besides, it takes
a lot of preparation.

-Oh, we've got all
the preparations.

-Uh, well, as you
see, I'm very busy.

-But Dad's getting no
place, and I'm staved.

-Well, Mrs. Wilson
will give you something

to eat in the kitchen.

-We've got plenty to eat.

We just can't get it cooked.

-Dear, why don't you
go and help them?

-Well, if it'll help get
rid of a-- oh, OK, Dennis.

I-- oh, Martha, now you-- you
keep your eye on that plant.

And you call out of the
slightest thing happen.

-I won't take my eyes off of it.

-Oh, Great Scott!

Dennis, don't touch it.

-I was only trying
to help it along.

-Well, the best way to do
that is to go into your yard.

Come on.

Watch the plant.

-Well, having a little trouble
getting things, uh, started,

Mitchell?

-It was a little trouble
before, Mr. Wilson.

Now it's-- it's
just plain t*rture!

-Mr. Wilson will do it, Dad.

He's had experience.

-Mr. Wilson, be my guest.

-Well, even an
experienced woodsman

has to have workable,
basic equipment.

Did you make this
gadget, Mitchell?

-Well, I did it by the book.

It works.

-It works swell!

Only it won't start a fire.

-Oh, I see.

Well, of course,
there's a knack to it.

Eh-- uh, oh.

By the way, do you
know how to cook

the steaks once I
get the fire going?

-I have my own ideas, but
I'm open to suggestions.

-Oh, well, it's very simple.

Now, uh, you and Dennis go cut
a couple of, uh, fork sticks

about, oh, two feet long.

Then you skewer the
steaks onto the forks,

and hold them over the
flame, and turn them

until they're done evenly.
[chuckling]

[chuckling]
-All right.

Now go cut the forks.

-Oh, all right.

-D-- Dennis--

-I want to watch
you start the fire.

-Well, Dennis, now if you want
to train to be a Boy Scout,

now the first thing-- one of the
first things you have to learn

is strict obedience.

-Come on, Dennis.

-OK.

-Mitchell!
Dennis!

[sighing]

-Well, I came, I
saw, I conquered.

-I can't believe it.
[george laughing]

-Boy, you sure did it
in a hurry, Mr. Wilson.

-Oh, it was very simple.

Well, now to get
back to my cameras.

-Mr. Wilson's going
to take a picture

of a cereus that
only blooms at night.

-Oh, I hope you get a
good picture, Mr. Wilson.

-Well, I hope too if I don't
have too many interruptions.

-Thanks a lot, Mr. Wilson.

-Well, I'm glad to
oblige, my boy, this once.

-Mr. Wilson's a regular pioneer
like in the good old days

huh, Dad?

-He sure is.

And he's got good work
of a basic equipment.

-Sleeping under
the stars is sure

a neat way to sleep huh, Dad?

-Well, I can take
it or leave it.

-Wait until I tell Tommy about
us cooking on four sticks.

-Well, all right, but you don't
have to tell him everything.

-You mean that part
about your stick cooking

before the steak did?

-I just got it too
close to the fire.

-That's OK.

I bet a lot of the pioneers
dropped their steaks

in the ashes in
the good old days.

-At least it was a popular
color, Charcoal Grey.

-What do you think I ought to
call our patrol while we're

training to be Scouts?

-Well, what's wrong
with the Wild Cubs?

-Maybe a little cub
couldn't make enough noise.

Mr. Wilson's patrol
was called the Seals.

-Really?

I never thought of seals as
being particularly noisy.

-You should watch Mr. Wilson.

[barking like a seal]

[henry laughing]

-I see what you mean.

-What about grizzly bears?

[growling]

-Gee, you sure are
a good growler, Dad.

How about a lion?

[roaring]

[henry laughing]

[henry growling]

-Oh!

Oh, Martha, I hope this cereus
plant isn't allergic to noise.

Maybe that's why
it isn't blooming.

-Oh, George!

Whoever heard of such a thing?

[dennis barking like a seal]

-Oh!

-I'm going into the house, son,
and get my own sleeping bag.

-Heck, we're going to sleep
in the tent, aren't we?

-Well, yeah, but my
feet will stick out.

And it's colder tonight than
I thought it was going to be.

Say, will blankets
be alright for you?

-Say, why don't I borrow
Mr. Wilson's sleeping bag?

Then we could be twins.

-Yeah, maybe you better do that.

-OK.

[henry laughing]

-I sure appreciate
it, Mr. Wilson.

Anytime I can do
anything for you?

-Yes you can, Dennis.

Well, when I get
the sleeping bag,

I want you to take it home
with you, crawl into it,

and quietly stay there.

Let me get this darn thing down.

Oh, there it is.
Whoa!

-I'll help you pick
them up, Mr. Wilson.

-Oh, no.

Never mind, Dennis.
Never mind.

I'll do it myself tomorrow.

Now there's your sleeping bag.

I've got to get back to
my vigil on the patio.

-Can I take this canteen
along on account of I

might get thirsty
during the night?

-Yes, I want you
to take everything

you could conceivably need now
so I won't be disturbed again.

[dennis howling]

[dennis growling]
[snort]

[snoring]

[ribbit]

[ribbit]

[snoring]
[snoring]

[ribbit]
[snoring]

[snoring]

[ribbit]

[snoring]

-Boy, Dads and frogs
sure do snore loud.

[snoring]
[ribbit]

[snoring]

[ribbit]

[snoring]
[ribbit]

[snoring]

[ribbit]

[snoring]
[ribbit]

[snoring]

[ribbit]

[snoring]

-Sounds like Mr.
Wilson's asleep too.

[snoring]

-Wake up, Mr. Wilson.

Your cereus is blooming!

Wake up quick so you
can take it's picture!

[snoring]

-Dad!

[snoring]

-Hurry, Dad!
-What?

What is it?

What's the matter?

-Mr. Wilson's
cereus is blooming,

and I can't wake him up!

-Well, what time is it?

[snoring]

-It's o'clock.

I-- it's almost daybreak.

-Hurry, Dad!

[snoring]

[ribbit]

-Dennis, Dennis, see if
you can undo this zipper.

[henry sighing]
-It's stuck tight.

-Oh, for Pete's sake.

-Look, I'll get my camera and
take a picture for Mr. Wilson.

Keep trying, Dad.

[snoring]

[henry hollering]

[snoring]

-Hey, Mr. Wilson.

Wake up!

You've got to take a picture!

[snoring]

-I guess it's no use.

[snoring]

HENRY (OFFSCREEN):
Dennis, where are you?

-OK, Dad.

[snoring]

-Jeepers, Dad!

-All right, you've got
to cut open the zipper.

Can't you wake up Mr. Wilson?

-Heck no!

He's as stubborn a sleeper
I ever saw in my whole life!

-We can't let him miss
taking his picture.

Mr. Wilson, wake up.

Wake up, Mr. Wilson!

Come on.

Snap out of it, Mr. Wilson!

[george babbling]

-Wake up, Mr. Wilson,
it's daybreak.

[george babbling]

-Wake up, Mr. Wilson!

-Oh!
Oh, Mitchell.

Well, I must have dozed off.

-Several hours ago.

-Oh, good grief!

Ah!

-Here we go, Mr. Wilson.

-Oh, good gracious.

-Upsy daisy.

-Oh, thank you, Mitchell,
for waking me in time.

-I helped too!
-Oh.

Well, thank you, Dennis.

Now out of the way.

Eh, eh!

Great Scott!

It's closed!

Oh, whatever will I
tell Mr. Timberlake?

-Just tell him that
while you were asleep--

-Dennis, don't even think it.

-I was just going
to tell you that--

-Dennis, I think
we'd better go home.

-Yes, Mitchell.

And I've got to go
in and think of what

I'm going to say
to Mr. Timberlake!

-But Dad, I took the
picture myself on this.

-I'm sorry, son.

I'm afraid it won't do.

Mr. Wilson has to have
a professional picture.

-Jeepers.

-No.

No, Martha.

I just can't do it.

-But, dear, it's past four.

You're going to have to tell
Mr. Timberlake something.

-Oh, it's so humiliating.

Mr. Timberlake trusted me.

The newspaper depended
on the picture.

The Garden Club was
counting on the publicity.

And George Wilson fell
asleep at his post.

[doorbell ringing]

-Will you get that, dear,
while I put this away?

[gasping]

-You know, Martha.

I wouldn't blame them if they
stripped me of my trophies.

[doorbell ringing]

-Oh, Mr. Timberlake!

-George, I just couldn't
resist being on hand

when you got your copy
of the evening paper.

Oh, what a day!
What a day!

-Oh.

Well, maybe we better
go inside and sit down.

-Is something wrong?
You look pale.

-Well, I-- I'd almost
rather cut off my retirement

pay than have to tell you this.

-What?

-Well, the sad fact
is I didn't get

a picture of the
night-blooming cereus.

-George!

-Well, it was evidently
a late bloomer.

And so while I was
waiting, I dozed off.

-You, George Wilson,
asleep at the switch.

Oh, I'm afraid the
Garden Club will

regard this as catastrophic.

-Well, it really wasn't
entirely my fault.

You see, the little boy who
lives next door, Dennis, kept

running in and out all day
making me extremely nervous,

you see.

-The members aren't going
to like this, George.

-Well, I kept on taking my
nerve medicine to calm me down.

And well, I overdid it.

-I'm sorry, George, but
I'm afraid that I'll

have to take the plant
to another photographer.

-Oh now, Mr. Timberlake, let
me have another chance tonight.

And if Dennis sets foot
on my probably, I'll--

DENNIS (OFFSCREEN): Mr. Wilson!

Hey, Mr. Wilson!

Hi, Mr. Timberlake.
-Hello, Dennis.

-Dennis, don't you
have anything better

to do than come over here?

-The paper boy, Mr. Wilson.

He's coming off the block.
-Well--

[george stuttering]
Never mind the paper, Dennis.

-But it's the paper
with the picture in it?

-What picture?

-The one I took for Mr. Wilson
last night when I couldn't wake

him up.

-Dennis, do you mean
that you took a picture,

and the newspaper has it?

-Dennis, if this is
your idea of a joke--

-George, if this is
true, it's miraculous.

-If it's true, it's impossible.

Oh, Dennis, go home.

-Jeepers, can't I even
wait until you see it?

Mr. Krinkie said
it was so good he's

going to put it in
the paper today.

-Mr. Krinkie said that?

-He sure did.

I took my camera to
him early this morning,

and he developed the picture.

So is it OK if I stay?

-Well, of course it is, my boy!

You just make yourself
right at home.

My, isn't he a fine
boy, Mr. Timberlake?

-He certainly is
and resourceful.

-I did it for good
old Mr. Wilson.

Pretty soon now we
can talk about you

being Den Mother for our
Wild Cubs huh, Mr. Wilson?

-Eh.

Well, Dennis, if your
picture makes the paper,

I'll be right in the
middle of your den.

-So will I. I'll be Den Father.

-Gee, thanks!

[laughing]

HENRY (OFFSCREEN): Hi, Mr.
Wilson, Mr. Timberlake.

MR. TIMBERLAKE (OFFSCREEN): Hi.

-Mitchell, Dennis tells me
the night-blooming cereus

is in the paper.

-It sure is.

-(HAPPILY) Well-- well then
let's take a look at it.

-You and the Garden
Club got quite a spread.

-I'm delighted.

May I?

-Well, let's take a look at it.

[laughing]

-Oh, George, this is priceless.

You may never get to be on the
judging committee of the Garden

Club, but you sure could
model for mattress ads!

[laughing hysterically]

GEORGE (OFFSCREEN): Cereus
poses but photographer dozes.

[laughing hysterically]

-Great Scott!

[laughing hysterically]

[theme music]