-Hi, Mr. Wilson!
-Oh, hello, Dennis.
-Can I see your collection
of old dollar bills?
-Dollar bills?
-Oh, you must mean my
old coin collection.
I don't collect old bills.
-Mrs. Elkins said you did.
-She said that?
-I heard her.
She says you've still
got the first dollar
bill you ever made.
[theme music]
-What do you know, Alice?
Charlie's loaning us these
spotlights for nothing.
-What magic word did you use?
-Oh, I just told him we were
having a Cub Scout circus here
tomorrow night.
Gee, honey, you're pretty.
Are you sure you'd rather be a
den mother than a movie queen?
-Well, being a den mother may be
less glamorous, but I like it.
-Well, it just so
happens I think
den mothers are
pretty glamorous.
-Boy, what a world.
Might as well stop
making my costume, Mom.
-Aren't you gonna be the lion
tamer at the circus tomorrow
night?
-Not the way things are going.
Joel Snyder's mother won't let
him be the rear end of a lion.
-Well, uh, couldn't just one
boy wear the lion costume?
-Jeepers, dad.
I'd look pretty
silly as a lion tamer
if the lion wasn't
any bigger than me.
-I'm sure you'll
find another boy
at school tomorrow
who will do it.
-I sure hope so.
-Well, now, here.
Let's try on your tailcoat.
-Oh, boy, Mom, this is swell.
Maybe we can have a cub
scout circus after all.
Now, I've just gotta find
the other half of my lion.
-George, you've got to stop
upsetting yourselves this way.
-Well, Martha, why
shouldn't I be upset?
Krinkie's going to blast
me in that paper of his,
and you know it.
-He's interviewing you for
his Important People column.
What makes you think
he's going to blast you?
-Well, for one thing, we have
never gotten along very well,
and I did make him look
pretty silly last spring.
-Maybe he's forgotten
all that fuss
about his statue of the
town's first settler.
-Martha, people are
still laughing at Krinkie
for putting up that statue of
Simon Peterson, first settler,
and I proved he was third.
And when they made
Krinkie tear it down,
he's just never forgiven me.
He'd love to make me look
ridiculous in his paper.
[doorbell]
-Uh-oh.
There he is now.
-I'll get it, dear.
-Come in, Mr. Krinkie.
-Thank you, Mrs. Wilson.
-Well, good evening, Krinkie.
-Good evening.
-I just wanted to
get a line on some
of the important things
you've done, George.
-Fine.
Come in, sit down.
-No, you sit down.
You know, George, my
readers have recommended you
for my Important People column.
-Oh.
Well, I do everything
I can to help, Krinkie.
-Ever been in the penitentiary?
-The penitentiary?
What kind of article are you
writing about me, anyway?
-Have to get the facts, George.
Painful as they may
be to both of us.
Now, when you came to
live in our fair city,
did you have to leave
the town you came from?
-What?
-I mean, did they
let you go quietly,
or were they nasty about it?
-Now look here, Krinkie,
they were very pleasant
about my leaving
town, thank you.
-I'm sure we'll be able to
find a few more little juicy
mistakes in your life, George.
Anybody who has
lived as long as you
have is bound to have
two or three skeletons
rattling around in the closet.
-But there are no skeletons
in your closet, dear.
-Now, how can we be sure?
I must have done
something I'm ashamed of.
[doorbell]
-Oh, now what?
I'll get it, dear.
-Hi, Mrs. Wilson!
-My, you're dressed up, Dennis.
-I came over to show
you and Mr. Wilson
my coat for the
Cub Scout circus.
-Well, it's a
beautiful red coat.
What are you?
-A lion tamer.
Do you suppose Mr. Wilson
has a whip I could borrow?
-A whip?
Good heavens, Dennis.
Whips went out with
the horse and bugge.
-Your father's old riding
crop's around somewhere.
Maybe that would do for Dennis.
-A riding crop would
be swell, Mrs. Wilson.
I could make a whip out of it.
-Oh, Martha, a man is
out to ruin my life,
and you're worried
about riding crops.
-I'll get you some of
your nerve medicine,
dear, and then you and Dennis
can look for the riding crop.
-Thanks, Mrs. Wilson.
Next to my lion problem, my
whip problem is my biggest one.
-Boy, I can make
a whip out of it.
Thanks, Mr. Wilson.
-You run along now, Dennis.
I have a lot of very important
things to worry about.
-Hey, Mr. Wilson.
A picture.
-What?
-Gee, that's a funny
looking picture.
-Good heavens, I
thought that thing
had been thrown out years ago.
-What is it, Mr. Wilson?
-Well, that's me, Dennis, once
when I was a flagpole sitter.
-A what?
-Flagpole sitter.
That's me up on top.
-Boy, that's a
funny thing to do.
-It was a county contest,
and I was the champion.
days.
- days?
Sitting on top of a flagpole?
-That's right.
-Boy, what crazy things
you did in the olden days.
-Olden days?
It took great skill, Dennis.
Still, I suppose it would
seem ridiculous today.
The sort of thing some people
might consider a skel--
-Boy, wait 'til I
tell Tommy about this!
-Tommy?
No Dennis, you're not
going to tell anybody
about that picture.
It should never have--
oh, Dennis, little friend.
Let's you and I have
a nice little chat.
There.
Now, we are good
friends, aren't we?
-Sure.
-And you know what good friends
do for each other, don't you?
-Sure.
They trade lollipops.
-Yeah, yes.
But they also keep
each others' skeletons.
I mean, each others' secrets.
-Do you mean your flagpole
sitting is a secret?
-Oh, Dennis, it's one
of my darkest-- I mean,
one of my deepest secrets.
-Can't I just tell Tommy?
-Dennis, I don't want
anybody-- it'll be our secret.
Good friends go through thick
and thin for each other.
-Well gee, Mr. Wilson,
if it's that important.
-Oh, it is.
And when you have an
important problem,
a really important
problem, who do you think
will help you with it?
-You?
-Your friend, good
old Mr. Wilson.
-Really?
You'd help me with
my lion problem?
-Well, Dennis, I said
that good friends
go through thick and
thin for each other.
Of course-- Dennis, just
what is your lion problem?
-I need a big lion to tame
in the Cub Scout circus,
and you'd be just great.
You're bigger than two
little boys any day.
I'd better go tell Mom
to make that costume big.
Really big.
-Dennis!
Wait a minute!
Dennis.
I can't wear a, a lion costume.
I'm grow up, and
grownups just can't
do that kind of thing,
especially when they're
having articles in
the paper about them.
-Nobody has to know who you
are, once you're in the costume.
-I know, Dennis, but don't you
have a more important problem?
-Gosh no, Mr. Wilson.
This may be my last
chance to be a lion tamer.
-But--
-And who the lion is could
be another secret we have.
It's fun being good friends,
isn't it, Mr. Wilson?
-Did Mr. Wilson
have a whip, dear?
-No.
But he had a riding crop.
I'm gonna make a whip out of it.
Look, Dad!
-Say, how about that.
I might have a little
piece of leather
to put on the end of it.
-Thanks, Dad!
You know, I've
been thinking, Mom.
Instead of having two
little boys for my lion,
why don't I just
have one big boy?
-Well, do you know
someone who might do it?
-I think so.
I'd have to know his size.
Where would he come
up to on your father?
-Oh, he'd come up
almost to Dad's head.
And he's wider, too.
-Will his mother let him do it?
-Well, I'm sure she'll let him.
You'll make that costume
big, won't you, Mom?
-Oh, I will.
Real big.
Now, why don't you run
on up to bed, dear?
-OK.
Night, Mom.
-Night, Dennis.
-Night, Dad.
-Night, son.
-That little boy sounds
rather big for his age.
-I have a feeling that boy
is old for his age, too.
-Are you thinking what
I'm thinking, Henry?
-Mr. Wilson's the
only boy around here
who fits that description.
-And he's the only one
Dennis went to see tonight.
But why would Mr. Wilson do it?
-Why, it's obvious, honey.
Our son was growing up to
be one of the great salesmen
of all time.
-We're gonna be the best
thing in the circus tonight.
Get down on all fours
and I'll show ya.
-If Krinkie could
only see me how.
-See how much like
the lion you are?
-Dennis, you know,
maybe, maybe it
might be even
better for you if I
rented you a small, real lion.
Tame, of course.
-That would be against
Cub Scout rules.
Everything in the circus
has gotta be homemade.
-I see.
-Now, Mr. Wilson, roar.
-Roar?
Dennis, I said I'd be your lion,
but I did not agree to roar.
-Well, if you don't
roar, how else will
the audience know
you're ferocious?
-Well, just put it on the
program in large letters.
Ferocious lion.
-There isn't gonna be a program.
And what kind of a
lion doesn't roar?
-Well, a nice,
polite, aging lion.
-But the lion I tame
has gotta be wild.
You know, the kind that roars.
-Oh, all right, Dennis,
I'll roar for you.
But I'm not saying
how good it will be.
After all, lions have had more
practice at it than I've had.
Roar!
-That's swell, Mr. Wilson.
Now do it louder.
-Louder?
Oh, dear.
Rawr!
-That's great, Mr. Wilson!
And now you jump
up here and roar!
-I jump up there, too?
-Sure.
When a lion's in your power,
you can make him do anything.
-I'm certainly in your power,
but whether I can make it up
there or not's another thing.
-Sure you can, Mr. Wilson.
Just try it and you'll see.
Now jump up here and roar!
-Rawr!
-Thatta boy, Mr. Wilson!
-The way things are going,
Krinkie's article about me
will probably be on
the obituary page.
[doorbell]
-Mr. Millard, come on in.
-Came a little early for
the circus, Mitchell.
Mr. Krinkie asked me to
take a few photograph's
for tomorrow's paper.
-I'm a gorilla.
-Well, you could have fooled me.
I didn't know Hubert
was a member of the den.
-Oh, he joined just in
time to be a gorilla.
I hope you don't mind my
taking of photographs,
but Mr. Krinkie is my boss.
-Not at all.
Come in.
-Martha, I can't
be a lion tonight.
I've almost got a temperature.
-Now George, you made
Dennis a promise.
-Oh, I know, but-- but Martha,
suppose somehow Krinkie
finds out about it.
Why, he'd make a skeleton
in the closet out of it.
-Nobody will know that you're
in that costume except Dennis
and me.
-Well, my dear, everybody reads
his important people column,
and, well, I've always
wanted something
written about me
in a dignified way.
I've never been in Who's
Who, or even What's That.
Most things written about me
have hardly been dignified.
I can still see the headline.
Class orator falls
into orchestra pit.
-I know how truly
dignified you are, dear.
And so does everyone else.
And they'll keep on
knowing it no matter
what Mr. Krinkie writes.
[doorbell] I'll get it, dear.
-Martha wait.
That could be Krinkie.
-Hi, Mrs. Wilson.
Is Mr. Wilson ready?
-Yes, dear.
Come in.
George, it's Dennis.
-Guess what, Mr. Wilson?
If we're lucky, our picture
will be in the paper tomorrow.
-Our picture?
-Mr. Millard's taking some
photos for Mr. Krinkie tonight.
-I knew it, Martha.
You see?
I'll bet anything
that Krinkie has
his assistant over
there just to spy on me.
-Now George, even if
the picture is taken,
nobody will know that
you're in the costume.
-Well, suppose they have
x-ray film of some kind.
I wouldn't put anything
past that Krinkie.
-Now George, you really do want
to keep your promise to Dennis.
-I'm keeping mine, Mr. Wilson.
I haven't told Mr.
Krinkie or anybody
about your flagpole sitting.
-You see?
Now put on your head,
George, and go to the circus.
-All right, Martha.
-Come on, Mr. Wilson.
Right here.
[doorbell]
-Oh, good evening.
Come on in.
Right on in there.
Thank you.
Oh, my.
Nice.
Thank you.
You can put your
hats around there.
-Hi, how are you tonight?
You can take the seat
down in front if you want.
Hi, do you want to sit in there?
-You give it back to me.
It's mine.
-I'm just gonna use it.
I'll give it back.
-I want it now!
-Well, get it!
-Boys!
What's this all about?
-He stole my nose!
-I just wanted to wear it
during my opening speech.
-Well, Tommy, I think
you'd better give it back.
A clown really needs his nose.
-Golly.
Why do I have to
be just me tonight?
-Now Tommy, you have to
make the opening speech.
You'd better stand
over here and be ready,
because it's just
about time to go in.
Come on, boys, line up.
The circus is ready to begin!
-Jeepers, if you're worried
about someone seeing you,
why don't you put on your head?
-Because it's stuffy in there.
-You get in line.
-It's time to start, honey.
Is everybody here?
-Well, they're not all here,
but I think we can start.
-On with the circus.
[applause]
-Good evening,
ladies and gentlemen.
Welcome to den three's first
annual Cubs Scout circus.
But first, a song.
-(SINGING) We're the wolf
cubs, we're the bear cubs,
and true lion cubs are we.
All together, we're the
cubs, and known as--
-Mr. Wilson, they've started.
We've got to go line up!
-Oh, good grief.
Oh!
-Jeepers, what
happened, Mr. Wilson?
-Well, your father
left a nail in the side
of his house, that's
what's happened.
[applause]
-Before we go on, a
few announcements.
The den will have a
field trip tomorrow
morning to hunt fossils.
Mrs. Mitchell, our
den mothers, wants
me to say that there will
be refreshments for everyone
after the show.
And now, on to the circus.
Here's our ringmaster,
Mr. Mitchell.
-Ladies and gentlemen, it's
good to see so many of you
out here tonight.
Our performers are in the
wings, ready to go on.
And now, without
further delay, here
is the most talented gorilla
that ever hit our shores.
The son of King Kong, Garballa.
-Grr.
Grr.
Grr.
Rawr!
-Dennis, I can't go
in there like that.
-I'd better get Mom
to sew you back up.
-Dennis!
What about our secret?
-Mom's a good friend of
mine too, Mr. Wilson.
Don't have to worry about her.
Why, you know, I bet
she's keeping secrets
that we don't even know about.
[applause]
-And now here's
a riddle for you.
What's tall and short, and
dances on all four legs?
Why, a dancing
giraffe, of course!
-That's your cue, boys.
You're on.
-Hold my banana, Mrs. Mitchell.
I didn't have time to finish.
[applause]
-Mom?
-Dennis, where's your lion?
-Something's wrong
with his costume.
Come look at it.
-Oh, dear.
-I'd better check
with your father.
-Mom?
If you recognize my
lion, it's a secret, OK?
-My lips are sealed.
-Good.
We'll be waiting in the kitchen.
-Psst!
-What's the matter, honey?
-I have a little
repair work to do.
Do you think you can
handle things out
here too for a moment?
-Sure.
-Oh, here, ringmaster.
Hold this.
It belongs to the
dancing giraffe.
-I wonder which half.
[applause]
-Oh, Alice!
Please!
Try to have a little
better idea of where
the costume leaves
off, and I begin.
-I'm sorry.
There.
I think that does it.
-Oh.
-Oh, and Mr. Wilson,
about your secret.
Don't worry, I'll keep it.
-Oh, thank you, Alice.
-Boy, am I glad I'm a Cub Scout.
Where else would I ever
get to be a lion tamer?
-Now hold onto
your seats, folks.
You're about to see a Cub Scout
risk his life in an attempt
to take the most
ferocious of animals,
the king of the beasts.
People who faint easily
are advised to leave now.
Here it is, the
contest of the century.
Boy versus beast!
[applause]
-Get in here!
-Rawr!
Rawr!
-That's funny, yeah?
-Rawr!
-Back!
Back!
-Rawr!
Rawr!
-Back!
Back!
-Rawr!
-Now, jump up here and roar!
-Rawr!
-Bow!
-Oh!
I knew it!
Picture!
Millard, I want that photograph!
-I'm sorry, Wilson.
This picture belongs on the
front page of tomorrow's paper.
-Oh.
-Mr. Millard says you can have
more copies of the picture
if you want them.
-More?
I don't even want this one.
Martha, this is just the
sort of thing Krinkie
was dying to get his hands on.
He'll make me look
foolish for sure.
[doorbell] Now, who can that be?
-Hello, Mrs. Wilson.
-Come in, Mr. Krinkie.
-I just stopped by to
see George for a minute.
I just wanted to be sure you
had a copy of this photo Millard
took last night.
Quite a likeness, isn't it?
-Krinkie, you wouldn't dare
print that picture of me
in your paper?
-How's this for a headline?
George Wilson plunges
into second childhood
as oldest Cub
Scout in the world.
It isn't often I get
a chance to write
about a skeleton in
somebody's closet,
and print a picture
about it, too.
-Now look here, Krinkie, I--
-Mr. Wilson!
Hey Mr. Wilson, we've
still got our secret!
There's nothing about
you in this morning's--
-Dennis.
-Oh, uh, hello, Mr. Krinkie.
-Well, it doesn't
matter, anyway.
The secret's out.
-Do you mean Mr.
Krinkie knows about your
being a champion
flagpole sitter?
-Dennis!
-Well, well, George.
Champion flagpole
sitter too, eh?
Now my article will have two
juicy skeletons in your closet.
-But I thought you said
the secret was out.
-That's all right, Dennis.
There are no secrets
among old friends.
-Then I can tell
everybody about you
being the front end of a giraffe
last night, huh, Mr. krinkie?
-Dennis, you promised!
Right in your mother's
kitchen, you--
-Well, well, well, Krinkie.
-Front end of the giraffe, eh?
Oh, ho, ho!
Wait until everybody down at
the lodge hears about this!
-Wilson, if you ever
mention a word--
-Mention it?
I'm gonna shout about it!
Everybody will know!
Unless--
-Unless what?
-Those skeletons in my closet?
-Good friends do keep each
others' secrets, Mr. Krinkie.
They go through thick
and thin for each other.
-Ha ha!
Good boy, Dennis.
-You will keep my
secret, George.
-If you keep mine.
I
- hate to do it,
but it's a deal.
No skeleton in your
closet in the article.
Just George Wilson,
good citizen.
-Good.
Dennis, I don't know how
two such good friends
as Mr. Krinkie and
myself can repay you.
-You can help out the first
Monday night of next month.
-Oh?
What's happening then?
-Us Cub Scouts are gonna have
another circus, this time
for everybody in the whole town.
And I'm gonna be the
elephant trainer.
-What?
-One of you can be the
front end of my elephant,
and the other can be the rear!
-Great scott!
[theme music]
03x14 - Through Thick and Thin
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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.