-I finished raking the
garden, Mr. Wilson.
Can I have my quarter now?
-No.
Not now, Dennis.
I have to take a picture
of a very rare bird
never before photographed.
-Can I watch?
I gotta make a report
to my science club,
and this would be great.
-Well, all right.
But you have to be very quiet.
See.
There he is right up there.
Isn't he a beauty?
-Yeah.
-Keep very quiet.
We'll get closer.
-Achoo!
-Oh no.
Oh, Dennis.
Now I'll never find that bird.
Oh, good grief.
[theme music]
-Oh, Martha, the
living room looks
just fine for the reception.
-I'm sure lots of
people will come.
-Well, I'm not
worried about that.
It's Hester Hutton.
You know, Mr. Pindyck is
coming to hear her bird calls.
I just hope she doesn't
throw a fit of temperament.
-I'm sure she won't, dear.
What's that?
-Oh.
These are the leftover signs.
I put about a dozen
of them around town.
-Remember the bird,
that's good, George.
-Oh, you like that?
-Yes.
-That was my little
contribution.
-Look what I'm making.
It's a stuffed surprise.
A pineapple stuffed with cottage
cheese and pineapple chunks.
-Oh.
Well, that looks very
tasty, Martha, my dear.
Very ta-- oh, it is tasty, too.
-And look.
Look what I found.
Won't this be the
perfect centerpiece
for the buffet table?
-Oh, Martha.
What are you
thinking of, my dear?
That's a stuffed owl.
-Well, Mr. Pindyck is head of
the State Bird Lovers Society,
isn't he?
-Yes.
Of course, he is, my dear.
But he was-- he was elected on
a no stuffing of birds platform.
-It's so lifelike.
-Well, believe me.
Mr. Pindyck would know.
If he ever saw that
thing, why, he'd
never appoint me
as state delegate
to the National Bird
Lovers Convention.
Never.
Ah.
Well, I'll just go put
these things away and-- oh.
Oh, Martha.
Come here quick.
Look.
Look.
Look Look quick.
Look.
Look out there.
Look.
-Isn't that sweet,
Dennis feeding a bird?
-Oh, Martha.
That's not just a bird.
That's the pumice billed thrush.
I'm going to get
a picture of it.
Got it.
-You scared it away, Mr. Wilson.
-Oh, that's all right, Dennis.
I got an excellent picture
of it thanks to you.
I want to thank you
very much, Dennis.
-You're welcome, Mr. Wilson.
If that roll's finished, my
dad will develop it for ya.
-Oh yes.
The new darkroom.
Dennis, do you suppose
your father could
have a print of this for the
reception this afternoon?
-Sure.
My dad's really good.
-You're wanted on
the telephone, dear.
It's about the bird
music for this afternoon.
-Oh, that's right.
The old hen is going
to perform, isn't she?
-George, she's not that old.
-No.
She's if she's a day,
but I don't care about that.
I just hope she does those bird
calls without laying an egg.
-Well, you better
see what she wants.
-All right.
Hold the phone, Martha.
Now, Dennis, you
tell your father
that I'd love a print of that
last picture for the reception.
-OK, Mr. Wilson.
I'll tell him it's a rare bird.
-Hey, Dennis!
Wanna hear the Indian Ocean?
-I'm in a hurry, Tommy.
-It's a seashell for
my science club report,
and it's not just any old sea.
It's the Indian Ocean.
-Sounds just like any
plain old ocean to me.
Wait till you see what
I got for my report,
a picture of a bird
nobody's ever seen.
-Wowee.
I wish I had something
as good as that.
-I know something
almost as good,
if we could only
get to hear her.
-What is it?
-A year old hen
that does bird calls.
-Wow.
-But we'd have to
ask Mr. Wilson.
-Let's go ask him.
-OK.
But first I gotta
take this in to dad.
-Oh, Martha, I should never
have written Mr. Pindyck
that she was going to perform.
-Hester Hutton hasn't
backed out, dear.
It's just that she gets nervous.
She called and said
she's on her way over.
She wants to see if the
atmosphere of our living room
is right.
-Atmosphere.
Ha.
She's a temperamental
prima donna.
-Now, dear, she's famous
for her bird calls.
Mr. Pindyck's coming
just to hear her.
-Well, I hope we
can depend upon her.
She's always changing her mind.
-Maybe if she knew
she was really wanted.
You know, a little flattery
goes a long way, dear.
[doorbell]
-There she is now.
Miss Hutton, come in.
-Mrs. Hutton, if you please.
There is a Mr. Hester Hutton.
-Of course.
-Mrs. Hutton, may I say I have
never seen you look so well,
so radiant before.
Why, if I were a bird,
I'd-- well, I'd call.
-If you were a bird, Mr.
Wilson, and managed a call,
a stony silence would follow.
[laughs]
-Well, fortunately I'm
not a bird, eh, Martha?
-Yes, dear.
It's much better this way.
-I'm afraid this
room just won't do.
Something isn't quite right.
-I suppose it was just
too much to hope for,
to hear again the voice that
made George a bird lover.
-Huh?
-My voice made you a
bird lover, Mr. Wilson?
-It was a few years
ago when you were
doing your bird
calls in the stadium.
We were in the last row.
Weren't we, George?
-Oh, of course.
The-- the-- oh.
Yes.
You see, before
then, Mrs. Hutton,
I'd strictly been a cat man.
But hearing you that night
changed my entire life.
-I had that effect
on you, Mr. Wilson?
-Oh.
Mrs. Hutton, when I went home
that night and put out the cat,
believe me, I meant it.
-I think I can do my bird
music in this room after all.
-Oh, Mrs. Hutton.
You made me the happiest
man in the world.
-I feel the same way.
-Yes.
It will do.
Now I must fly.
-Ah.
-This is my morning to visit
patients at the bird hospital.
-Oh.
Going to see our little
fine-feathered friends, eh?
Then I'll see you to
your car, Mrs. Hutton.
-You think Mr. Wilson will let
us come to his bird meeting
today?
There he is now.
Let's ask him.
-Mrs. Hutton, I can't tell
you how thrilled I am.
-I gave dad your film
to develop, Mr. Wilson.
-Oh, that's fine, Dennis.
Thank you.
-Mr. Wilson, can me
and Tommy come over
and hear that old hen do
bird calls this afternoon?
-Shh.
Dennis.
-Old hen?
-One that's and may even
lay an egg at the same time.
-Tommy.
-Mr. Wilson.
-You said you had
an old hen that
was going to do bird
calls, Mr. Wilson.
-Dennis, where are your manners?
You don't call anybody an old
hen, especially to her face.
Mrs. Hutton.
But Mrs. Hutton, they're
just kids, just crazy kids.
-I hope your memory is good,
Mr. Wilson, because that
is the only place you'll
hear any of my bird music
from now on.
-Ah, Mrs. Hutton.
Oh.
Now you've done it.
You've offended Mrs. Hutton
and ruined my reception.
-Jeepers, Mr. Wilson.
Was that that--
-The old hen.
Yes.
Oh, Dennis.
-Tommy and me thought
you meant a real hen.
-A chicken hen,
one that cackles.
[cackling]
-Well, I didn't.
When you called her an old hen,
you really cooked my goose.
[clears throat]
-Mr. Wilson.
Mr. Wilson?
-Oh!
Oh, Mitchell.
Oh, yes, the picture
of the rare bird.
I forgot all about it.
That'll take Pindyck's
mind off Hester Hutton.
Do you have it developed?
-Ah, Mr. Wilson, I have
a confession to make.
-Oh, Mitchell.
Nothing's happened?
-Well, you see, it
was very fast film.
And I had to work
completely in the dark.
And, well, there was
this pan on one side
and a pan on the other side--
-All right.
Spare me the details.
Well, this is just not a
day for birds, I guess.
-I want to make it up
to you, Mr. Wilson.
So I'm going down
to see Miss Hutton
and see if I can't
change her mind.
-Do you know her, Mitchell?
-Well, she's a
client of our firm's.
And I thought maybe
I could persuade her.
-Oh, my boy.
If you can swing this, I'll
forget all about the photo.
-I'll do my best.
-Well, I certainly hope so.
Say, maybe I can still be state
delegate to the National Bird
Lovers Convention after all.
[doorbell]
-Hi, Mrs. Wilson.
Is Mr. Wilson home?
We came to apologize.
-Well, he-- he's not
feeling very well, Dennis.
-We want to make it
right, if we can.
-I think you better come
back later to apologize.
Oh!
Do you boys want to do something
real nice for Mr. Wilson?
-Uh-huh!
-Sure we do!
-Then why don't you
take one of his signs
down to the record
shop on Main Street.
They can put it in the window.
-OK, Mrs. Wilson.
Anything for Mr. Wilson.
Where is it?
-In the hall closet.
-I'll get it.
-Thank you, boys.
-Well, what do we
do now, Dennis?
-I guess we better go back
and talk to Mrs. Wilson
and see if there's
anything else we
can do to help uncook
Mr. Wilson's goose.
-Hey, man.
Dig that.
New records of The Bird.
-Say, we gotta
hear this, Nelson.
Nobody's ever blown a horn like
Horace Bird Wilton, not even
me.
And, man, I tried.
-Hey, look at that.
Special Bird Society meeting.
How about that?
The Bird is gone
but not forgotten.
-Remember the bird, I like that.
-This is one jam session
we are not gonna miss.
Maybe this two-week stay
in this one-horse town
won't be so bad after all, eh?
-Excuse me.
Hey.
Oh.
Here's your tea, Mr. Pindyck.
-Thank you.
-Oh.
This is really a
pleasure, Mr. Pindyck.
-Well, there's
always fair weather
when bird lovers get
together, eh, Wilson?
-Very well put, Mr. Pindyck.
Not only a bird lover.
A phrase maker, too.
-Thank you, Wilson.
-Would you like some
lemon in your tea?
-Yes.
Thank you.
I would.
-Oh, allow me.
-Thank you.
-Ah!
-Oh, I'm terribly
sorry, Mr. Pindyck.
I--
[doorbell]
-Oh, excuse me a
moment, Mr. Pindyck.
-Oh, Miss Creeper come in.
Mr. Pindyck?
You remember Miss
Creeper, of course.
-Of course I do.
-May I take your wrap?
-Oh, thank you.
My dear, Mr. Pindyck.
You must tell me your most
recent bird adventure.
-Wilson.
Here are Miss Creeper's gloves.
-Oh.
Thank you, Mr. Pindyck.
-What is this thing
doing here anyway?
I told you Pindyck's
motto-- better
stuffed shirts
than stuffed birds.
-Oh dear.
Dennis must have
left it there when
he was getting the
signs out of the closet.
-Well, Martha, my dear.
In the future you
just be more careful.
Heavens.
There.
-Well, this is the street,
and that's the number.
-This must be the pad.
-Shall we amble in?
-I'm with you, Nelson.
-Bird sure would be happy
they got a society for him.
-I'm not so sure,
though, that he'd
like a meeting this
early in the day.
[doorbell]
-This the Bird
Lovers session, dad?
-Well, I guess it is.
You're a bird lover?
-Anybody who says one word
against Bird answers to us.
-There's nothing like
dedicated bird lovers.
Just go right in.
-Thanks, chick.
-Hey, I don't see Max or Ernie.
They said they'd here.
-It's early, man.
Give them time.
-These are Bird lovers?
-Hmm.
Say, daddy, nobody
looks like much just
standing around talking.
-Excuse me.
-Yes.
Welcome, bird lovers.
-Lady, we're so glad there's
finally a Bird Lovers Society.
-Say, lady, we've loved
the Bird for years,
only we didn't know
there were so many of us.
[laughs]
-Pickle?
-Thank you.
[doorbell]
-Oh.
Excuse me.
-Henry just phoned, and
he thinks he's done it.
-You mean Hester
Hutton's coming?
-As soon as she finishes
feeding all her birds.
-Oh, thank you so much, Alice.
Oh, that's wonderful.
[doorbell]
-Here you are, Mrs. Wilson.
-Oh, thank you, boys.
-Is there anything
else we can do to help?
-Oh, I don't know.
I'm just so busy.
Um.
I know.
You can get that
stuffed surprise out
of the refrigerator
for me and put it
in the center of
this tray, and then
put some of these
little crackers
all around the edge
like good boys.
-OK, Mrs. Wilson.
-This is the only
stuffed thing I see.
-What about that?
-That's only an old pineapple.
Not in your mouth.
On the tray.
-Now, tell us, Mr. Pindyck.
After all, you do get
around the country
so much more than any
of the rest of us.
Now, tell us.
What bird music have
you heard recently
that was really exciting?
-Yes.
Well, of course, I do
travel rather extensively,
and I hear melody after melody.
Bird music, I mean.
-Say, what else is worth
listening to, huh, daddy-o?
-Exactly right.
However, it may
interest you to know
that the most exciting thing
that's happened to me in years
occurred just the other day
right outside my own house.
-How about that, everybody?
Right outside his own house.
-It was old king thrush himself
on the top branch of the tree
right outside my window.
-Oh no.
I don't believe it.
-On the top branch?
-Of a tree?
-Grabbing the limb firmly with
both feet and singing away.
-Both feet?
-Man, I don't know what
that cat was taking.
But I'd sure like to have some.
-We don't joke about
old king thrush.
-Most certainly not.
-Well, of course not.
I mean, everybody's
got his problems.
Right?
And if Old King Thrush has got
the problems I think he has,
then he needs our help.
Right, Winthrop?
-Right, Nelson.
I know a very good rest
home for that sort of thing.
-Rest home?
Old king thrush is healthier
than you or I, young man.
-Man, I may not be healthy.
But I'm not up in any
treetop grabbing a branch
with both feet.
-Sir, are you deliberately
trying to bait me?
-Don't raise your
voice to me, Clyde.
-What kind of a reception
is this, Wilson?
What are you trying to do here?
-Now, Mr. Pindyck, I can
assure you that I don't--
[gasp]
-Where should we put
this, Mr. Wilson?
We're helping.
-This is too much, Wilson.
A stuffed owl.
Of all the insults.
I-- this is outrageous.
-Get that thing out
of here at once.
Shame on you.
-I'm getting out of
this place, Wilson.
And let me tell you this.
You will never be a
delegate to any convention
if I have anything
to say about it.
-Mr. Pindyck, there's
been a mistake.
Those boys were just
trying to honor you.
-No.
I--
-Oh, Miss Hutton.
-Mrs. Hutton, if you please.
-Mrs. Hutton.
-Mr. Pindyck.
-You're here, the voice
I've been waiting for.
-Oh, Mitchell,
you saved my life.
-I paid a price, Mr. Wilson.
I had to promise I'd take
portraits of all her birds,
all of them.
-Oh good heavens.
-I'm going to run
along and join Alice.
Now I hope it all goes well.
-Yes.
Thanks again, Mitchell.
-It's a real pleasure.
-Glad to be here.
-All right.
Now, attention, everybody.
Sit down, please.
In just a moment we
will hear Hester Hutton,
one of the foremost renderers
of bird music in the country.
And now, dear lady,
if the mood is right.
-Oh, yes.
I'm quite ready.
I'll stand here.
-That's right.
-The merry first
number I should like
to recreate, that moment
when the first robin appears.
-That's a song?
-Sure.
When the red, red robbin
goes bob, bob, bobbing along.
[tweeting]
-How far out can you get?
-Something new, all right, man.
That's the craziest new jazz
development in years.
-Yeah?
How come?
-She's eliminated the
melody completely.
[tweeting]
-How we gonna tell the
science club all about this?
-I'm sure glad I didn't
throw away the Indian Ocean.
-Hey, look.
It's that rare
bird Mr. Wilson was
trying to take a picture of.
Here, birdie.
[tweeting]
-Lady, you are
definitely off the path.
What you need is a little help
to get into orbit, like this.
-Man, now we're really
gonna remember The Bird.
[tweeting]
[horn playing]
-You dig it?
[horn playing]
[music]
-What are you
running here, Wilson?
You want to be a delegate.
You can't even bring
off a reception.
-Mr. Pindyck, this
is all a surprise.
-You can just forget
about being a delegate.
-Oh, Mr. Pindyck!
-I have been insulted in
my lifetime, Mr. Wilson.
But nobody before ever
went to such lengths.
-Oh, Mrs. Hutton!
Mr. Pindyck!
Ah.
Hey.
Ohh, good grief.
-You wait here.
I'll run home and get my camera.
Don't move.
[door slams]
-Hey, that-- that-- that's
a pumice billed thrush.
Don't-- don't move that.
Don't move that.
That's a very rare bird.
Wait.
One more.
This is an important
day for science, my boy.
Tell me, did Wilson know about
that bird being around here?
-Sure.
He was trying to take a picture
of it for you this morning.
-He was going to take
the picture for me?
-Mr. Pindyck, I never saw
those people before in my life.
-Wilson, do you know
what I have in here?
The very first photograph
of a pumice billed thrush.
-Really?
Wonderful.
-And I took it with the help
of this splendid young man.
Wilson, in all my
years as a bird lover,
this is my first first.
-Well, I'm just glad
I was able to help you
with your first first.
And on my lawn.
-Wilson, I think
I've misjudged you.
I want you to be state delegate
at the convention after all.
-Why, Mr. Pindyck.
-On one condition.
-Why, of course.
Anything you say, sir.
-That this amazing young
man comes along with you
as alternate delegate.
-What?
-You know, Wilson, a lot
of people like birds.
But not very many
birds like people back.
He has a way with them.
-You mean Dennis comes, too?
-I'll book a double room
for you at the hotel.
-Boy, what a science club
report this will make.
-Seven days and seven
nights with Dennis.
Great Scott.
[music]
03x15 - Calling All Bird Lovers
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Follows the Mitchell family – Henry, Alice, and their only child, Dennis, an energetic, trouble-prone, mischievous, but well-meaning boy, who often tangles first with his peace-and-quiet-loving neighbor, George Wilson, a retired salesman, and later with George's brother John, a writer.
Follows the Mitchell family – Henry, Alice, and their only child, Dennis, an energetic, trouble-prone, mischievous, but well-meaning boy, who often tangles first with his peace-and-quiet-loving neighbor, George Wilson, a retired salesman, and later with George's brother John, a writer.