01x24 - Follow That Man

Episode transcripts for the TV show, "Blondie". Aired: January 4 – July 5, 1957.*
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Blondie is the first of two TV series based on the comic strip by Chic Young.
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01x24 - Follow That Man

Post by bunniefuu »

DAGWOOD: Uh-uh, uh-uh.
Don't touch that dial.

Blondie!

[♪♪♪]

-Here you are, Alexander.
-Thank you, Mom.

[WOOD THUDDING]

What's that mean, Mom?

Oh, that means,
"Dagwood, breakfast is ready."

What were those last two knocks?

They mean, "Right now."

How do you want your eggs?

[WOOD KNOCKING]

-Scrambled?
-That's right.

[WOOD KNOCKING]

What's that mean?

That means,
"I'm coming right down."

Oh.

[FLOOR RUMBLING]

Mom, what does that mean?

That means your father
fell down the stairs.

Oh, my goodness. Oh, Dagwood.
Are you all right?

Yeah, I think so.

Any fractures, Pop?
I did first aid training.

Yeah. Oh, wait a minute.
Where is it? Oh. Oh, no. Oh.

Blondie, I brought home a box
of candy with me last night.

I thought I'd surprise you
with it this morning. Surprise.

-Oh, wonderful.
-It's leaking.

It-- Yeah.

A minute ago, I had
chocolate-covered cherries.

Now I think we got
cherry-covered chocolates.

Oh, I think I'm all right.

-[CHUCKLES]
-Yeah.

-Here, help him up.
-Come on, Pop.

Oh. Yeah, I'm all right.

-Yeah, you can lean on me.
-DAGWOOD: Oh. Yeah, I'm okay.

Oh, my poor boy.

Oh, what a mess.
Here, Alexander. Oh.

Uh, oh.

Blondie, why didn't you take
the eggs out of the shells

before you scrambled them, huh?
[CHUCKLES]

-Oh, Dagwood.
-Daddy, look what you did?

You scared me, and I dropped
my little china horse.

Doesn't look like a horse to me.
Doesn't have any legs.

BLONDIE: Of course not.
You broke its legs.

Well, I suppose we'll just have
to sh**t him.

It's not funny, Daddy.
I like that little horse.

Oh, I'm sorry, Cookie.

Well, Daddy will take him right
down to Jack Bin's.

He can fix anything and he'll
fix it so you'll never know

-it was broken, okay?
-Okay.

Here. [CHUCKLES]

-Say, Pop.
-Huh?

-I forgot to tell you.
-Mm-hmm.

My teacher is taking our class
down to the State Capitol

for a trip and we're supposed
to have our fathers

-make our train reservations.
-Oh, good.

I'll stop by
the railroad station

-on the way downtown.
-Thanks, Pop.

We're gonna have a ball.

Your teacher is probably taking
you to the State Capitol

so you'll have
a better understanding

of how our government works.

We kids are probably going
'cause the State Capitol

has the biggest amusement park
in the country.

The trip
through the State Capitol

will be very educational.

They say the same thing about
the trip to Tunnel of Love.

[DOORBELL RINGING]

Oh, will you see
who's at the front door,

-Alexander?
-Sure, Mom.

Disgusting, isn't he?

You may not think that

when you're a little older,
dear.

All he thinks
about love, love, love.

What do you think about
after you get married?

[CHUCKLES] Then it's always
bills, bills, bills.

And money, money, money.

Gee, it's a hard life, isn't it?

-Yeah.
-It's for you, Mom.

Oh, I just love
to get telegrams. [CHUCKLES]

-I wonder who it's from.
-Yeah.

-[GASPS] Listen to this.
-Huh?

"American Woman Magazine
is pleased to award you

the first prize of 500 dollars

in its best American
recipe contest."

[inhales deeply]
Oh, 500 dollars.

Money, money, money.

-Oh, that's wonderful, Blondie.
-[CHUCKLES]

I knew something nice
was gonna happen today.

How did you know?

Yesterday afternoon
there was a rainbow

right near the corner
of our backyard.

Well, you know what that means?

-What?
-There's a pot of gold there.

I have to dig up that money

and we'll all take
a nice long trip. [CHUCKLES]

Your mama just got hit
with the rainbow.

[CHUCKLES] I'd forgotten
I entered the contest.

"Please send us all of your
recipes bound in book form,

so we may publish them
for all our readers."

[CHUCKLES]
"With congratulations,

American Woman Magazine."

Oh, boy. [CHUCKLES]

I think I'll telegraph them
to wire me the money

and then I'll get it right away.

Oh, what are you gonna do
with the money, Blondie?

Well, I do need some new clothes
and I've always wanted a dress

from that exclusive Paris Shop.

Good. Then get one.

I'll drop you off at the shop
on the way to the office.

All right.

And will you take my recipes
to the book shop

and have them bound
in book form so I can send them

-to the magazine?
-Sure, honey.

We better get started.
You got a lot of things to do.

-What?
-Well, take my recipes

to the book shop.

Need my little china horse
to be fixed.

And don't forget my train
reservations.

Okay, okay. [CHUCKLES]

I just can't wait
to see Mr. and Mrs. Dithers

when they see you in that dress
from the Paris Shop. [CHUCKLES]

They'll really think
we've struck oil.

[GASPS] I'm gonna be late
for the office.

-Bye.
-Oh, Dagwood!

Huh?

Well, I just remembered.
I can't go shopping

in an exclusive salon
like the Paris Shop.

Yeah, but why not?

Well, I haven't got a thing
to wear there.

Oh, I don't understand women.
I hope I never do.

[GASPS] Goodbye.
Goodbye. Goodbye.

-ALEXANDER: Hey, Pop.
-COOKIE: Daddy.

Yeah, the horse. Yeah. Yeah.

-Horse. Daddy.
-Yeah. Yeah.

-Goodbye. Goodbye.
-Here.

Don't forget
the train reservations.

Oh, Blondie, I wanted you to go
shopping with me

and you've already been
downtown.

[SQUEALS] God!

I just bought a few little
things I needed.

Do you mean that everything in
these boxes are something new

you bought for yourself?

-Uh-huh. Isn't it exciting?
-I can't stand it.

Oh, if I came
home with these many new things,

Julius would bite my head off.

Bite your head off?

You know what a big mouth
he has.

-Here's a hat I bought.
-Oh, Blondie, it's adorable

And here's the new dress
I bought.

Oh, Blondie, it's beautiful
for an inexpensive dress.

Inexpensive? Cora, do you know
where I got this?

At Ormandy's basement?

This is an original.
I repeat, an original.

I bought this
at the Paris Shop.

-The Paris Shop?
-Mm-hmm.

Oh, I didn't know
they had a fire.

I didn't get it in a fire sale.
I paid the regular price.

-Oh, Blondie, you're kidding.
-No, I'm not.

Oh, but why, for goodness' sake,

I wouldn't dare
even go in the front door.

Why, a dress
like this at the Paris Shop

must cost about-- Well,

anywhere from--
Well, help me out.

-How much would it cost?
-Uh, what did you say, Cora?

Blondie.

Looking for something?

Oh, I thought there
just might be

a little extra buttons
or a veil.

Or a sales slip?

Blondie, I wouldn't dream
of prying.

After all, I know that a dress
like this from the Paris Shop

would cost at least


Oh, I'd say at least that.

Of course, I say a lot of things
without being too accurate.

Uh, it could cost even more,
couldn't it?

Hmm, could be.

-Uh, as high as 300?
-That's possible.

Well, I don't care how much
it costs as long as you tell me.

Here's some shoes
and bag I bought.

Very nice. Uh, 350?

-And I got some gloves too.
-Very nice.

[PHONE RINGING]

Hello?

Oh, Blondie. [CHUCKLES]
I just want to tell you

that I took Cookie's
china horse to be fixed.

Now, Jack Bin said

you'll never be able to see
where it was broken

when he gets through fixing it.

Wonderful. And did you take
my recipes to the book shop

so they could bind them
into a book?

Uh-huh. And I called the station
about Alexander's train tickets.

Fine. Mrs. Dithers is here
and I'm showing her

all the wonderful clothes
I bought this morning.

Oh, did she like them?

Yes, she likes them,
but I think she hates me.

See you later, dear.

Four hundred?

How about staying for lunch,
Cora?

For lunch? Blondie, I'm going
to stay here until I find out

how much you paid
for this dress.

Cora, you'll be staying at least
over the weekend.

[CHUCKLES]

Oh, now, Cora, why shouldn't
Blondie buy some new clothes

if she wants to?

I haven't bought anything new
in months, except this hat,

and you didn't even notice it.

Oh, is that a hat? I thought
it was an Indian w*r bonnet.

Easy, boy.

Oh, I apologize, Cora,
if I said anything to hurt you,

-I'm sorry you heard it.
-That's better. I think?

[PHONE RINGING]

J.C. Dithers
Construction Company.

Hello,
is Dagwood Bumstead there?

Bumstead? No, he isn't.
Any message?

Well, yeah.
You see I make books for him.

You're a bookmaker?

BOOKMAKER: Well,
you might call it that, yeah.

Would you just ask him
to call me?

-Why, yes, of course.
-BOOKMAKER: Thank you.

That's odd.
Dagwood has a bookmaker.

Don't change the subject.

When an employer of yours
can buy his wife a dress

at the Paris Shop,
I find it very uncomfortable.

Well, maybe it wasn't your size.

You are putting on little weight
you know, here and there.

Especially there.

I find the situation
uncomfortable.

Blondie couldn't stop talking
about how much it cost.

If you can afford to pay
Dagwood that well,

I certainly think you can afford
to give me a bigger allowance.

I think you're holding
out on me.

Well, that's ridiculous.
I haven't a penny in my safe.

I don't trust you, dear.

That dress must have cost
at least 175 dollars.

Oh, that's fantastic.

Now, where would Dagwood
get that kind of money?

That's what I'd like to know--
wait a minute.

Did you say he had a bookmaker?

A bookmaker means
he's betting on the races.

But he can't afford it.
He hasn't got that much money.

How do you know it's his money?

What do you mean?

Have you checked
the books lately?

Cora, are you suggesting
that Dagwood would steal?

Oh, no. He wouldn't swindle me.
He's too stupid.

[CHUCKLES]
Takes one to know one.

[PHONE RINGING]

J.C. Dithers speaking.

Is Dagwood Bumstead
around there anywhere?

Bumstead? No, any message?

Yeah. This here is Jack Bin.
Will you tell Bumstead

his horse will be ready
to go at three o'clock?

His horse?

JACK: Yeah.
And tell him it's all fixed.

-Fixed?
-Yeah, he'll know what you mean.

I'll bet. Uh, I mean,
I'm sure he will.

And tell him not to forget
to bring his ticket.

-His ticket?
-JACK: Yeah.

You better
write it down for him.

I'll give the odds
he'll forget it.

I'll give you odds I won't.

Thanks, Dithers. Goodbye.

-What did I tell you?
-I can't believe it.

[SCOFFS] He's betting
on fixed horses.

But it doesn't sound
like Dagwood.

Oh, it's the quiet ones
you have to be careful with.

I think it would pay you to hire
a detective to shadow Dagwood.

Cora, you may be right.

But why would Dagwood take money
from the Dithers Company

to play the races?

He probably resents the fact
that you underpay him.

You are a cheapskate, you know?

Yes, I know.
Oh, I don't know.

The whole thing
seems silly to me.

-[PHONE RINGING]
-The phone never rings

unless Marie is out
getting coffee.

Hello?

Hello, is Mr. Bumstead there?

Bumstead? No, why?

Are you giving odds
on fixed horses too?

No, Nothing like that. I just
wanted to tell Mr. Bumstead

that I have his train ticket
for him.

-He might be in a hurry.
-A train ticket?

Yes, there was a little problem
getting a reservation,

but tell him I'll get him
out of town on Tuesday.

-MAN: Is that clear?
-Crystal clear.

MAN: Thank you. Goodbye.

The conniving hypocrite.

I'll find out the truth
if I have to plant the evidence

on him myself.

MR. DITHERS:
Your name is Nimble.

Jack B. Nimble by name
and by nature.

Well, aren't you a little too
noticeable for a detective?

Well, it's the perfect disguise.
I don't look like a detective.

No? Well, what do you look like?

-A man in a humbug.
-Hmm?

Nobody ever suspects
the man in a humbug.

I've even been taken for one.

Taken for what?

-A man in a humbug.
-Oh, I see.

It is the little mean,
shriveled up shrimps

that people suspect.

-What do you mean by that?
-Oh, I'm sorry.

Now, look, Jack,

I suspect one of my employees,
Dagwood Bumstead,

of filtering from the payroll.

So does he have the combination
from the safe?

No. I changed that an hour ago.
But if he is the crook

I think he is, then maybe
you can file his fingertips down

so they're sensitive
and open them by touch.

Now, I want you to shadow him.

Check on his family
and so forth.

-Right.
-Good.

Now, step into
that closet over there

and I'll call him in here.

Bumstead, come into my office
on the double.

-Bumstead, are you there?
-No. I'm here.

Oh. Oh, how did you get here
so fast?

[CHUCKLES] Well, you know me.

I'm the only man
that can outrun his own shadow.

Well, we'll see about that.

Oh, could I borrow your
nail file?

Uh-huh. How can you
be so brazen about it?

Well, it's not easy. [GIGGLES]

Well, while you're at it,
I seem to be having a little

trouble with the combination
on the safe.

-I wanna get the cash out of it.
-Oh, right up my alley.

[HUMMING]

Huh?

And now, I'll have
to call in an expert.

Oh, that won't be necessary,
Mr. Dithers.

[GRUNTS]

[BUMSTEAD HUMMING]

There.

Bumstead, how long
has that been like that?

Oh, for years.

-Dagwood.
-Uh-huh.

We've been pretty good friends,
haven't we?

Oh, yes. I'd say pretty good
friends, yeah.

I trust you
and you trust me, right?

No. Except that you
don't trust me

and I don't trust you,
otherwise we trust each other.

Oh, stop interrupting.
I never forget a friend.

In fact, there's only one thing
I would put before friendship.

-What's that?
-Money. My money.

Well, you can't take it
with you, J.C.

Well, you seem
to be doing all right.

Yeah. Huh?

Dagwood, I'm going to talk
like a Dutch uncle to you.

Oh, a Dutch uncle.

Say, that's a pretty
good accent, mein herr.

[SPEAKING DUTCH, LAUGHS]

I wanna ask you about taking
money from me.

Oh, I'd be glad to. This money?
Thank you. [CHUCKLES]

No! Now a couple of your friends
called today and they seem

-very anxious to see you.
-Oh, swell. Who was that?

One was a bookmaker
and the other one fixes horses.

Oh, well,
they're no friends of mine.

Well, I'm glad to hear that.
I feel better about my money.

Well, yes, I just do business
with them.

Oh, I'm sick again.

Oh, my. I had to meet Blondie.
And on the way,

I'm going to see
a man about a horse. So...

[SPEAKING SPANISH]

Hasta la vista, senor.
[CHUCKLES]

Hasta la vista, senor.
Mh-hmm. Well, Jack.

Unusual safe you have here.

Oh, never mind that.
Now, don't waste any time.

I want to know
where he is hiding my money.

And did you hear that,
"Hasta la vista, senor"?

He's planning to skip to Mexico.

Hasta la vista,
International crook.

I'll give your report
this afternoon.

[DOOR OPENING]

Daisy, up. Come on, Daisy.
Turn around.

-Come on, turn.
-[DAISY BARKS]

That's a very clever dog
you got there?

Thank you.
We have five other dogs.

And they're smart too.

Yeah, well, maybe you'd like
to sell some to me, huh?

No, that'd be like selling
a member of the family.

We don't need money that bad.

I guess your father
does have a lot of money.

-Hmm, I guess so.
-Do you like money?

I can take it or I can leave it.

Well, will you play
a little game?

Now, you look
like you've got very sharp eyes.

So for 1,000 dollars,
does your father have his money

-hidden somewhere?
-Yes.

Congratulations!

You've just reached
the 1,000 dollar plateau.

Now for 2,000 dollars,
where does he have it hidden?

In our backyard.

That is correct!

Now for 4,000 dollars,
whereabouts in the backyard?

Right near the corner
of our backyard.

Amazing!

Do you wanna go
for the 8,000-dollar-question?

Hmm, I thought it over
and I've decided to go on.

What courage.
Now for 8,000 dollars,

what is your father going
to do with the money?

Shall I repeat the question?

He's gonna dig it up and we're
all gonna take a nice long trip.

That is absolutely correct.
Now here's the money

and I'll see you
on the show next week.

Hey, this isn't real money.
It's play money.

Oh, well, easy come, easy go.

NIMBLE: And next,
they entered a jewelry store.

A jewelry store?
Oh, my poor money.

Well, Mrs. Bumstead
bought Mr. Bumstead

a jeweled wristwatch.

-A jeweled wristwatch.
-Seventeen jewels to be exact.

I then left them and drove
to the Bumstead home.

Where I cleverly interrogated
the daughter of the suspect.

Oh, that was useful.

Who informed me
that her father buried the money

-in the backyard.
-No.

And that he was planning
to dig it up and take a trip

with the entire family.

Well, come on, Jack.
We're going to dig up first.

Hey, cut it out.

Mommy, I don't think
she'd let you dig these holes.

And, remember,
the money belongs to Daddy.

Well, don't be too sure
about that.

For 100,000 dollars,

where else could your father
have hidden the money?

It's doesn't pay me to answer
those questions.

I'm in a higher tax bracket.

Oh, answer the questions.

What do you know about
being in a higher bracket?

All I know is that's where
I'd be in, and nobody wants it.

How's about 50 cents
in real money?

[GROANS] All right.

MR. DITHERS: Here.

Okay, he might also hide
the money in the cookie jar

or in our grandfather's clock.
But I know it's here.

Well, how come you're so sure?

Daddy said so. I told him I saw
the end of the rainbow

right there, and he said that's
where the pot of gold was,

and he was gonna dig it up.

You mean to say you've had us
digging here

because of a rainbow?
Why, you little--

Now, now, now. Take it easy,
Dithers. Hold it. Hold it.

Oh, I'm all right.
I'll come back tonight

and check on the cookie jar
and the grandfather's clock.

Oh, here comes someone.

Oh. Oh, hello, Blondie.
We were just leaving.

Oh, no, you weren't.

What's the idea of digging
all these holes in my backyard?

Well, Cookie had told us
a rainbow had ended here.

And we were just digging
for the pot of gold.

You were digging
for the pot of gold?

-Yeah. Just a childish whim.
-That's right.

Who's he, a male nurse
for nonviolent case?

A friend of mine, Mr. Nimble.
Insurance business.

Hmm, he looks more
like a detective.

Well, you didn't find anything,
did you?

No. Not yet anyway.

-Fine. Now fill up these holes.
-Oh, let Dagwood do it.

Oh, no, now get busy,
both of you. Go on!

Come on. I want a little action
around here.

Daisy, get out of the way.

-[DOG SQUEALS]
-Hey, maybe there

-is something buried in there.
-There certainly is.

I knew it.

-Just what is buried there?
-[DAISY BARKING]

Look for yourself.

Now, get back to work again.
Go on.

Well, as I said,

I'm sorry about
those holes I dug.

But it was, uh... it was just
one of those things.

I always wanted to dig
at the end of a rainbow.

-Are you all right, Mr. Dithers?
-Oh, yes, yes. I'm fine.

Have you been talking
to yourself lately

or hearing noises or anything?

I told you it was just
a childhood ambition.

You understand,
don't you, Alexander?

Oh, sure, sure.
Nothing goofy about that.

No indeed. Wow.

Did you know that the moon
is made out of green cheese?

-Of course.
-Wow.

Well, Mr. Dithers,
I see that you're enjoying

-your second childhood.
-Oh, stop it.

He got awful mad at me
when he didn't find the money.

Oh, you need a rest,
Mr. Dithers.

No. I'm just nervous.
That's all.

Do you wanna take a trip,
Mr. Dithers?

Well, if things work out
the way I think they will,

Dagwood will be taking
a little trip.

Oh, that's nice.
For how long?

Oh, say, five to ten years.

Well, I think I'll just
step outside

-and get a little fresh air.
-[PLATES SHATTER]

Oh, dear.
Don't worry about the dishes,

but I'm afraid you need
a little more than fresh air.

[CHUCKLES]
I'm perfectly all right.

Of course, you are, Mr. Dithers.
Here, help me put them in here.

Yeah.

[DOGS BARKING]

You wait for me,
you little blabbermouths.

[DOGS BARK]

Oh. What's he doing now?

[DOGS BARKING]

Quiet.

[DOGS WHIMPER]

Oh, what kind
of cookie jar is this?

Nothing in it but cookies.
Where's my money?

Poor Mr. Dithers.
He's been working too hard.

Yeah. But...
but what if he gets violent?

We better tie him up
with something

-so he won't hurt himself.
-Yeah.

He got awful mad at me
this afternoon.

Yeah. Yeah.
He has been acting real strange.

BLONDIE: Hmm.

[DAISY WHINES]

Even Daisy knows it.

Oh. Well, what's anybody
looking at me for?

Oh. [CHUCKLES] No reason
at all, Mr. Dithers.

No... no reason at all.

You think I didn't have all
my cookies? I mean, buttons.

Yeah. [CHUCKLES]
You sure would.

Cookie.

Well, I think I'll wander
into the living room.

I'll be seeing you later.

You go right ahead, Mr. Dithers.
We'll be with you in a minute.

Uh-huh.

-How do we get him?
-I've got a butterfly net.

No, I know something better.
And I better call Mrs. Dithers

and tell her to come over
right away.

Yeah. Men, keep an eye on him.

[DOGS BARK]

Stop following my footsteps.

[DOGS BARK, WHIMPER]

[CLOCK WHIRRS, CLATTERS]

Cut it out or I'll tear
your hands off

and punch your face!

Gee, I hate to do this,
but we better grab him now.

-Come on, Alexander.
-MR. DITHERS: Oh, stop.

You better come over right away,
Cora. Mr. Dithers has--

Well, he's flipped.
"What's new about that"?

MR. DITHERS: I said stop it!
Stop it. Bumstead!

Blondie, help!

I can't talk to you anymore,
Cora. Hurry over here.

-MR. DITHERS: Blon... Blondie!
-Did you get him?

[CHUCKLES] It's in the bag.

Oh, Bumstead,
what are you going to do to me?

Oh, don't worry, Mr. Dithers.

We'll take you to a nice,
quiet place.

Oh, no, no, no. Don't k*ll me.

You can keep all the money
you took

from the Dithers Company
and go to Mexico.

I won't say a word
to the police.

Gee, Mr. Dithers,
you're in bad shape.

That's the way the cherry flips.

Just a minute. What's all this
about Dagwood taking money

from the Dithers Company?

Certainly. And gambling
on fixed horses.

That's where he got all that
money to buy you those

expensive dresses.
Oh, but I don't care.

You can keep the money.
Just let me out of here.

But, Mr. Dithers,
that wasn't Dagwood's money.

I know it! I know it!

It was mine.

Yes. Blondie won it
as first prize

-in a recipe contest.
-Oh, no.

Oh, yes. But, Mr. Dithers,
I could have told you that!

-Well, why didn't you?
-You didn't ask me.

[ALL LAUGH]

-Oh, cut the knot.
-Just be patient, Mr. Dithers.

Yeah, Mr. Dithers, I'm sorry
but this was all your own fault.

-CORA: Yoo-hoo!
-BLONDIE: In here, Cora.

CORA: Oh.

Oh, playing games?

[CHUCKLES] Charades.

Oh, if he's supposed to be
a city, I'll bet it's Baghdad.

Cora, you cost me 50 dollars
for having him shadow Bumstead.

One hundred dollars.
Mrs. Dithers hired me too.

What for?

I wanted him to check the books
to the J.C. Dithers Company.

To find out if Julius
was telling the truth

about how little
the company was making.

Oh, did you find out
who was stealing the money

-from the company?
-Yes.

-He was.
-Oh.

Yes. And guess what, Blondie,

Dagwood and I are both
going to get a raise.

-Wonderful!
-Never!

All right, Jack, drag him out

and dump him
in the Bumstead washing machine,

until he changes his mind.

Now, Cora.

Okay. I will soften him up
with a little detergent.

And then we'll stiffen him up
with a little soap.

-[ALL CHEER]
-Bumstead!

Bumstead! I give up!

[ALL LAUGH]

[♪♪♪]
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