-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 a*t*matic
self-loading m*ssile g*n.
-But-- well, OK.
I guess if I can
sh**t my mouth off,
you can sh**t off a m*ssile g*n.
Come on.
[theme song]
-That m*ssile g*n's
the greatest, dad.
Are you going to buy it for me?
It only costs $ .
-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 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 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 m*ssile
g*n 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 $ , Mr. Wilson.
-$ ?
-Yes.
Of course, I know you'd
like to give more,
but Mr. Howard on
your block gave $ ,
and if I asked you
for more, he might
think I was discriminating.
-Uh, $ .
There's $ .
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
: in the afternoon,
and I was born
: 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 $ . .
-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 $ . .
-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, $ 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]
04x03 - Dennis and the Circular Circumstances
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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.