02x32 - Dennis and the Miracle Plant Food

[bunniefuu]

-I tried putting that
chair up for a half an hour

when it came yesterday.

-It's really very
simple, Mother.

All you have to do is follow
the printed directions.

-Hey, Grandma.

Is Agnes a good name
for a girl frog?

[laughing]

-Dennis, if I was
a little girl frog

I'd be very happy
to be called Agnes.

-That gives me four
swell names for the frogs

in Mr. Wilson's fish pond.

-When I was with Mr.
Wilson a little while ago,

he appeared to be
calling those frogs

by a few names of his own.

-How about Frank?

Frank's a good name, too.

-I'd better make it Frank Jr.
One of them's still a tadpole.

-Well, Mrs. Mitchell--

[scream]

[laughing]

-Henry, you're getting more
like your father every day.

[theme music]

-What are you doing, George?
-Oh.

Hello, dear.

Well, the plant
food I've been using

has just done wonders for
my fuchsias and azaleas,

but, well, nothing seems to help
my pander formis rubber plants.

So I'm doing a
little experimenting.

-Oh now, George,
remember the last time

you experimented by mixing
your own weed k*ller?

-Oh well now, Martha, we
needed a new lawn anyway.

-Maybe some of the members
of your Garden Club

can suggest something
to use on the plant.

-What, me ask those hot
house has-beens for advice

after the way they treated me?

Never!

Now I'll just put
this in here, and--

[ribbit]

-Ah!

Good grief.

[ribbit]

-Out, go on, scat!

Out, out!

[ribbit]

[ribbit]

[sigh]

-Martha, those little
beasts have just got to go!

-Oh now, George, it was
you who promised Dennis

that his frog, Sam, could
live in the fish pond.

-Well I never would
have if I'd known

Sam was about to
become a mother.

-What harm can a few frogs do?

-Martha, they wake
me up in the morning.

They keep me up at night.

They get in my way
when I'm gardening.

And they keep hopping
into the house

at all hours completely
unnerving me.

In short, Martha,
they do everything

that Dennis does,
but ask questions.

[laughing]

-And we'll name this
frog Mr. Wilson.

TOMMY (OFFSCREEN): That's
a good name, Dennis.

-Well, what if Mr. Wilson turns
out to be a girl frog like Sam?

-Mr. Wilson's a
boy frog, Margaret.

-Listen here, Dennis Mitchell.

How do you know he's a boy frog?

-Because he keeps
his mouth shut.

That's how.

[laughing]

[ribbit]

-Gee, look at him hop.
-Yeah.

Did you ever see a
girl hope like that?

-All right, Dennis.

You can call him
Mr. Wilson if you

let me pick out Sam's new name.

-You want to change Sam's name?

-Sam's a girl, isn't she?

-So what.

It's not his fault.

-Yeah, why punish poor old Sam?
-Sure.

Do we go around trying
to change your name just

because you turned
out to be a girl?

-But Margaret is a girl's name.

-Yeah.

-Dennis, it's no use
arguing with a girl.

-Now, let's see.

I think we should
call her Theresa.

-Theresa?

-After a girlfriend of mine.

-Listen, Margaret.

What right does some
dumb old girlfriend

of yours got to have as
well frog named after her?

-Dennis Mitchell, if you
don't mind your ways,

I may never even speak to
you after we get married!

-Dennis, do you believe
what my mom says

about us liking girls
when we get older?

-I guess we gotta
believe it, Tommy.

What about those guys
kissing girls in the park

without even getting
sick to their stomachs?

-Yeah.

-Maybe as you get older,
you get a stronger stomach.

-Say, there's good
old Mr. Wilson.

-Which one?

-The big one.

-Hi, Mr. Wilson.

We've been playing
in your fish pond.

-Oh, good morning, boys.

-What ya doin?

-I'm about to feed my new plan
there some special plant food

that I've invented.

Now, eh, don't bother me.

-Jeepers.

If that's the kind
of food plants like,

I'm sure glad I'm people.

-Me too.

I'd even rather be
a frog and eat bugs.

-You'd rather be a
frog than people?

-Nah, than one of
Mr. Wilson's plants.

-If you boys don't
mind-- (SOFTLY)

there's something on my back.

-It's only Gus, Mr. Wilson.

-Dennis, this is
just as good a time

as any to tell you
that you have got

to find another
home for your frogs!

-We will, but jeepers,
where'll we take them?

-As far away from
here as possible.

They're rapidly turning
me into a nervous wreck.

-Gee, Mr. Wilson, we just name
done of the frogs after you.

-Yeah, and you
should see him jump.

-He burps the loudest
in the whole pond, too.

-He's about the best swimmer.

-And the best diver.

-He doesn't even hold his nose.

-Dennis, I don't care if he
does the double one and a half

backwards from a low rock while
blindfolded with both legs tied

behind his back and
smoking a cigar.

-Does Sam have to go, too?

-Well, all except Sam.

-Jeepers, Tommy.

Those poor little orphans.

-Let's see.

It's inches.

Mm-hm.

Ah.

Now you boys step on
one more of my plants,

and you're going to have to
find some place else to play!

-Jeepers, Tommy.

I guess we'll have
to find new homes

for Jimmy, and Gus, and Agnes.

-Mr. Wilson, too.

-Here comes Sam.

[ribbit]

[ribbit]
[ribbit]

-Here, Sam.
-Uh oh.

-Jeepers.

Mr. Wilson's favorite plant.

-It is?

-Sure.

Isn't this the one he
was just playing with?

Now we're in real trouble.

-What'll we do?

-We gotta find another
plant like this

before Mr. Wilson
finds out, or he

won't let us come
around anymore.

-Hey, Dennis.

My mom's got some plants that
look like this in our backyard.

Let's go get one!

-That's a swell idea, Tommy!

But won't your folks mind?

-Heck, no.

We got a whole yard
chuck full of plants.

Dad says anything's better than
having a lot of grass to cut.

-Oh, boy!

-There!

It looks even better than
this old plant we broke.

-Yeah.
-Come on.

Let's go.

-Tommy, do you suppose
your folks would

let to try to keeping
the frogs in your fish

pond if we promise they'll
be quieter this time?

-Not a chance!

My dad's even complaining
about my Uncle Harold staying

with us.

And he hardly makes
any noise at all.

[humming]

-Great Scott!
Martha!

-George, I think
you ought to wait.

-Now, Martha-- oh, hello.

Uh, Mrs. Schooner, this
is Martha-- George!

George Wilson.

-Oh, good afternoon, Mr. Wilson.

GEORGE (ON PHONE):
Mrs. Schooner, I

wanted you to be
the first to know.

-Know what, Mr. Wilson?

-Well, I have developed
an amazing new plant

food, which made my pander
formis rubber plant grow

four inches within minutes.

-Mr. Wilson, are you quite
sure you're all right?

-Well, if you and the
rest of the Club officials

would care to drop by
my house this afternoon,

I will be happy to
substantiate my claim

with concrete evidence.

-We'll be there within
the hour, Mr. Wilson.

Goodbye.
-Goodbye.

[chuckling]

[singing]

-Hehe, hah!

Oh, Martha!

-Oh, George.

-Say, Grandma, do
you like fish ponds?

-Well, I suppose
they're all right.

-Hey, Dad.

Did you know Grandma
likes fish ponds?

-Is that so?

-Do you like fish ponds?

-If I was a fish, I
wouldn't be without one.

-Guess what, Grandma.

Good old Dad likes
fish ponds, too.

-That's nice, dear.

-I wonder how come
we don't have one.

-I'm afraid you'll have
to ask your father that.

-OK!

-Hey, dad.

Grandma wants to know why
we don't have a fish pond.

-What is all this
about fish ponds?

-The fish pond
we're gonna build.

-Hey, wait a minute.

Mother, what is all
this about fish ponds?

-Well I was just going to
ask you the same question.

-Boy, it sure is easy to get
excited over a fish pond,

isn't it?

-Dennis, we're not
building a fish pond.

-But just suppose
we did build one.

Then Sam and his kids
could have a new home,

and all live together,
and-- no fish pond?

-No fish pond.

Nice try, though.

-Hey, Dennis!

-That's Tommy.

Maybe he did better
with his folks.

-Hi, Tommy.

-Dennis, my mom
wants her plant back.

-She does?

Jeepers, are you sure?

-If I was any surer, I
couldn't sit down for a week.

-This is going to put
us right back where

we started from, Tommy.

-Even further back.

My mom says I can't watch
any television tonight.

-Want a caterpillar, Tommy?

-No thanks.

What a goofy bug, wearing a
fur coat in weather like this.

-Say, Tommy, I wonder
how much Mr. Merrivale

would charge for
a plant like this.

-He shouldn't charge
much for something

that looks like a big weed.

-That's just it.

The more they look like a
big weed without being one,

the more they cost.

-I got $ . .

And-- hey, wait a minute.

Here's another penny
stuck to my bubble gum.

-And I got $ . and
$ . in my piggy bank.

Let's see.

Eight and makes .

-Gee, Dennis.

If we had a little more, we
could run away from home.

-Well, one thing
at a time, Tommy.

You carry the two, and--
say, doesn't Mr. Merrivale

put in fish ponds for people?

-You think Mr.
Wilson would rather

have another fish
pond than a plant?

-Of course not, Tommy.

But maybe Mr. Merrivale would
like to give a frog away

with every fish pond he puts in.

-That's a swell idea, Dennis.

-Sure.

And that way we could find
good homes for Sam's kids, too.

-Hey, maybe we could get
Mr. Wilson a new plant

and make money besides.

-Jeepers, Tommy.

How much do you suppose
a frog is worth?

-Let's see.

One must be worth at least a--
you know something, Dennis?

I've never sold a frog before.

-Me neither.

I'm gonna get a box
to put the frogs in.

You take your mom's plant home.

And then meet me in Mr.
Merrivale's nursery.

-OK.

-Here.

Stick the old plant back
in until we get back.

-And thus, by mixing
the plant food

containing ammonic nitrogen
with the second bottle,

I derived this formula
which I am temporarily

naming George Wilson's
Modern Miracle.

[cough]
-Woo!

It certainly is
pungeant, isn't it?

[laughing]

-I wonder if it would
do anything for me.

[laughing]

-This is all very
interesting, but what we

really came by for was to see--

-Oh, of course, the
famous plant itself!

Follow me.

-Ah!

Now, over in that
flower bed, you

are about to witness one of
the miracles of our time.

Why, I wouldn't be
the least surprised

if it's grown several
inches since I called you.

-Isn't this exciting, Mr. Fizby?

-Simply thrilling,
Mrs. Schooner.

-Well, this way.

Haha!

Well, there it is.

To think, in
minutes, that plant

went from a mere
inches high--

-To a mere inches high.

-Yes, inches of
perfect full-leaf beauty

and all its-- inches?

Great Scott, Martha!
It shrunk!

-Oh, dear!

-If this is your idea
of a joke, Wilson--

-I don't understand.

Why, less than an hour
ago, it was up to here.

Martha, it's shorter
than it was this morning.

-Shame on you, Mr. Wilson.

And you almost had
us believing you.

-Well, I-- I tell you, I--

-Well, I suppose we really
should be running along.

-I have an idea.

Why don't we go in and
have tea and brownies

while Mr. Wilson uses
the plant food again.

-I really don't see what
you-- did you say brownies?

-That's a wonderful
idea, Martha.

And then when
minutes go by, we

can come out and look
at the plant again.

-Well, I certainly
see no harm in that.

-Fine!
I'll put the water on.

-It is now exactly and
a quarter inches high.

-All right, Wilson, proceed.

-Uh.

Thirsty little devil, isn't she?

-Hi, Mr. Merrivale!

-What do you boys want?

-We want to buy a plant.

-Well, now what kind of
plant are you interested in?

-We don't know what it's called,
but it looks like a big weed.

-Here's one, Dennis.

-Oh, well that's a new
variety of pander formis.

Yes sirree, boys.

That plant will cost
you just exactly $ . .

[whistles]

-Boy, that sure is a
nice plant though, Tommy.

-Yeah.

Eh, how'd you like
to pay for it?

Cash or by check?

-We'd like to pay as much
as possible by frogs.

-Well, I guess that
wouldn't be too-- by what?

-Frogs.

You can give one away with
every fish pond you put in.

-They make great little pets.

-Out.

-They're kind and thoughtful.

-And eat bugs like crazy.

-Out.

-Besides, we've got
$ . , and $ . ,

and $ . , which makes
$ . all together.

-O-U-T, out!

-Mr. Merrivale, if
you'd just take a look

at these cute little frogs--

-For the last time, please--

[ribbit]
-Jeepers.

-Now you did it.

-Here, Agnes.

Here, boy.

-Here, Frank.

[ribbit]

-Get those frogs out of here.

-Don't yell, Mr. Merrivale.

You'll make them nervous.

-Good afternoon, Mr--

[ribbit]

[scream]

-Uh, Mrs. Johnson, wait!

-Mr. Fizby?

-Oh, Mrs. Wilson,
one more brownie,

and I shall turn into one.
-Come on.

Is the minutes up yet?

-Precisely two minutes to go.

Though I, for one,
consider this experiment

a ludicrous waste of time.

-Now, now, Mr.
Trumble, it's only fair

that Mr. Wilson should be given
his day in court, so to speak.

-Oh, thank you, Mrs. Schooner.

-Wasn't it swell of
good old Mr. Merrivale

to sell us this plant
for only $ . , Tommy?

-Yeah.

And all we had to do was
promise to take our frogs

and not come back until
we're out of college.

-Now we'll put the caterpillar
back, and we're all through.

Come on, Tommy.

We might as well take Sam's kids
back to the fish pond for now.

-OK.

-Say, we must've left the
frogs over in my yard.

-Oh, Martha, I can't look!

-If that plant
has grown an inch,

I will eat my potted
geranium leaf by-- amazing,

utterly amazing!

-I see it, but I
can't believe it!

-MR. FIZBY (OFFSCREEN):
I feel positively giddy.

-Martha, it's inches!

-Oh, George!

-Wilson, we have done
you a grave injustice.

-This is truly a superb
achievement of man amongst men.

-Oh now, really.

-As a small token of
affection, I make a motion

that we hereby declare Mr.
Wilson a member of the Valley

Garden Club judging committee.

-Well--

-All in favor say I.

-I.

-Congratulations, dear.

-Thank you, Martha.

[clearing throat]

-I would like to say something.

Now as soon as George
Wilson's Miracle Plant Food

is available for the
garden lovers of the world,

the entire proceeds
from the product

will go to our own
beloved Garden Club.

-[inaudible] Bravo!

Bravo!

Perhaps we can get
that fellow, Merrivale,

to handle the sale of
the general public.

-Oh, oh, no, please.

Anybody but Merrivale.

Why, that old skinflint would
even overcharge his own mother

for flowers on Mother's Day.

-I agree.

Personally, I wouldn't
be a bit surprised

if he's the one who
originally imported

the Japanese [inaudible].

-Now if it just doesn't
start to shrink again.

-Shrink?

-It better not shrink,
Tommy, or we'll

take it right back
to Mr. Merrivale.

-Back to who, young man?

-Uh oh.

I think I've said
too much already.

-Dennis, do you know something
about this plant that I don't?

I stepped on your old plant
by mistake, Mr. Wilson.

So Tommy and me
bought you a new one.

-Oh, good grief!

-When did you boys
put in that plant?

-Just a few minutes ago.

[laughing]

-Just think of it.

Haha.

We were all fooled
into believing

the impossible by
two little boys.

MRS. SCHOONER (OFFSCREEN):
[laughing hysterically]

-Laugh, Tommy.

-Then you're not mad
at us, Mr. Wilson?

-Oh, why, of course not, Dennis.

But knowing Mr.
Merrivale, however, I'm

afraid this plant
was very expensive.

-Boy, was it.

-We never would've
gotten it if it

wasn't for the frogs
we took over to trade.

-You mean you traded Merrivale
the frogs for the plant?

-Not exactly, but he sure
got all excited about them.

-Well, you don't say.

-Boys, where are your frogs now?

-There they are.

After them, Tommy.

-Oh, if that old
pirate Merrivale

is interested in those frogs,
he must have a good reason.

-The question is, what
could he want them for?

-Could it be because
they eat garden pests?

-Why, of course, Martha!

-Mr. Wilson, do you
actually believe--

-Of course I do.

Why, those frogs eat
harmful garden pests.

-And that old meanie,
no doubt, expects

to get those frogs
for next to nothing

and sell them to garden lovers
like us at outrageous prices.

-Young man, I'll give you
$ . for one of those frogs.

-You will?

-You can put me
down for one also.

-I'll take two of the
icky little creatures.

-Oh, boy.

You collect the money, and
I'll pass out the frogs.

-OK.

[ribbit]

-Just a minute, Dennis.

-Goodbye, Agnes.
[ribbit]

-Goodbye, Clyde.

-Clyde.

-Goodbye, Jimmy.

[ribbit]

-Goodbye, Mr. Wilson.
[ribbit]

-Oh, Mr. Wilson's a
slimy one, isn't he?

Oh, no offense meant.

-Oh, I should so like to see
the look on Mr. Merrivale's face

when he hears about this.

-Yes, sir.

This time, we certainly did
put one over on the old pirate.

[ribbit]

-We told Mr. Merrivale those
frogs would make swell pets,

but he wouldn't even
take them for nothing.

-What?

-Come on!

-OK.

-Boys, come back here.

[door slamming]

-Here's Clyde.

-Ah, Great Scott!

Martha.
[ribbit]

[theme music]