"[Whistle]" "[Whistle]" "Well, see you later, son." "You do your stuff today." "I'll have to if I want to pass." "Good morning, Mr. schofield." "Hello, hattie." "Hello, verman." "So long, son." "So long, dad!" "How's you, penrod?" "Oh, I'm fine, thanks." "Duke!" "Duke, go on home." "Go on!" "I'll take Duke home." "I'm going right by your house." "Come on, Duke, get in there." "Get in that wagon now." "I'll take him home right now." "Bye-bye, Rodney." "Bye." "Morning, Rodney!" "Oh." "Hello." "Morning, Mr. bitts." "Howdy, schofield." "A little late this morning, aren't you?" "3 minutes of 9:00." "You know the rules of the bank." "This statement of the atlas trucking company's incomplete." "Will you check on it?" "Yes, Mr. bitts." "Get it to me as quickly as you can." "It'll take about 10 or 15 minutes." "All right." "[Loud ringing]" "[Students talking, shouting]" "Hi, penrod." "Meeting today?" "Shh!" "Not so loud!" "4:00." "Ok, chief." "I don't know what's the matter with him." "4:00." "4:00?" "Ok." "Sam, how about wienie?" "Oh, he's got the mumps." "Oh, these kids nowadays..." "They've all got something the matter with them!" "Yeah, they ain't got no, uh..." "Stamula." "Yeah." "Gee!" "I got a pip!" "A thousand-dollar one!" "Gee!" "Jiggers!" "Here comes Rodney bitts." "Whatcha got?" "What are you guys trying to hide?" "Wouldn't you like to see!" "Oh, I know what it is." "Aww..." "You think he does?" "Oh, that nuisance doesn't know." "He's a liar." "Duke!" "Here, Duke!" "Come on, Duke." "Whoa..." "Bread and butter." "Ha ha ha ha!" "If your feet was any bigger, you'd be halfway home!" "Say, listen." "I'll chase you right past your house." "You'll never catch me, boy." "I'm related to Jesse Owens!" "Oh, yeah?" "Hey!" "Don't do that!" "Here, take this one!" "Hey!" "Cut that out, will you?" "Hey, penrod, penrod!" "He's hitting me on the head." "Ow!" "Penrod:" "Let him alone!" "Come on, verman." "Oww!" "[Crying]" "Why don't you pick on somebody your own size?" "Yeah, why don't you grow up?" "You big bully!" "Don't cry, verman." "What's the idea of picking on a little kid?" "Why don't you mind your own business?" "I'm making it my business." "You stop picking on him!" "Why?" "What'll you do about it?" "You hit him again and I'll do plenty." "Oh, yeah?" "I told you to quit it!" "[Boys shouting]" "Come on, penrod!" "Let's go, chief!" "Come on!" "[Shouting continues]" "You know, they've been showing a fair profit." "What's that?" "Sounds like a fight." "It is a fight, a couple of youngsters." "They ought to be ashamed of themselves, the young hoodlums." "I think one of them is Rodney." "What?" "!" "And the other's penrod!" "[Gasps]" "The disgrace!" "What's the matter with you?" "You shouldn't be..." "Where's my cap?" "Ahhh!" "Ahhh!" "[Bawling]" "What do you mean by such disgraceful conduct, Rodney?" "Fighting in the main street!" "I couldn't help it!" "They jumped me!" "Who jumped you?" "Penrod and his gang!" "Why, that doesn't sound like penrod, Rodney." "What was the reason?" "I'll interrogate my son, Mr. schofield, if you don't mind." "Certainly not, Mr. bitts." "I was merely trying to bring out the facts in the case, because if what Rodney says is true..." "If what Rodney says is true?" "Schofield, Rodney was brought up to tell the truth always." "Please don't infer that my son is a liar!" "Certainly not, Mr. bitts, but my boy is not a rowdy either." "Penrod is not the one to employ gangster methods." "And I certainly saw nobody else engaged in the fight but Rodney and penrod." "I'll get the facts from Rodney." "You attend to the Rogers matter." "I'll talk to you later." "Go into my office, Rodney!" "Wash your face and hands." "I'm surprised at you, Rodney." "I'm surprised at you!" "I could understand that schofield boy, but..." "It was all his fault, dad." "I was walking home from school, minding my own business, when him and his gang started throwing horse chestnuts at me." "For no reason?" "I wasn't doing a thing!" "Penrod's just got it in for me." "He hit me when I wasn't looking!" "And then the whole gang jumped on me!" "Who were these other boys?" "All that gang of penrod's." "Gang?" "Yes, sir." "He's got a gang that does anything he says." "They even steal tires and things, and sell them!" "No!" "Well, that's what I heard." "But they keep away from me because they know I'd tell on them." "Maybe we'd better inquire into this gang." "Stop splashing!" "Come on!" "Piggy!" "Shh!" "Quiet!" "Come on!" "Hurry up!" "Coast clear, verman?" "Coast clear, chief." "Ok, keep your eyes peeled." "Everybody here?" "Operator 15 isn't." "I know, I know." "He's got the mumps." "All right, all you guys." "Get in your departments." "Uh, beans?" "You take charge of the communicator." "Any new applications?" "Uh, yes, we got 3." "Well, we'll take them up at the next meeting." "Has the fingerprint department got anything to report?" "I may have something here." "Well, report it to me when you find out." "Ok." "How about the treasury?" "Same as last week." "How's that?" "Nothing in it." "If we don't watch out, we're gonna have trouble balancing our budget." "Why don't you throw this department out?" "It's a waste of time!" "Aw, pipe down, stinky." "Any new pictures, operator 12?" "A couple." "Why, that's the fella works down at Smith's grocery store." "You've got to quit wasting film, slats!" "You're supposed to take pictures of suspicious- looking characters!" "How do you think we're ever gonna catch any of these fellas?" "We want pictures of men that look like crooks!" "Why, that's the chief of police." "Well, I thought he looked like a crook." "Ohh..." "All right, 14, how about those two posters you've got?" "Here they are." "My dad just got them in this morning." "A thousand dollars!" "Shh." "Hey, fellas!" "Come here!" "I want you to take a good look at this guy so you'll know him if you ever see him." "Only $200 reward?" "Guess he ain't a very important crook." "Maybe it ain't worth our while trying to check up on him." "Well, take a peek at this one!" "[Boys gasping and murmuring]" "Uh, Jack, you can post these in a conspi... conspi..." "Conspicuous." "Well, anyway, you can post them up." "Say, piggy, you moved last week, didn't you?" "Yeah." "Well, why didn't you tell a fella?" "Now I gotta move all you guys around again!" "Where'd you move to?" "Auburn street." "See, I'll take you from here..." "And put you..." "There." "[Clucking, barking]" "[Verman hollering]" "What's the matter with you, bad dog?" "If you don't stop chasing chickens, somebody'll tie a can to your tail!" "Bad dog!" "Everything ok out there now, verman?" "Ok, chief." "Good." "[Bangs gavel]" "We will now take up the question of new operators." "Has any of you fellas any suggestions for proposing anyone?" "I have." "I'd like to propose Dan hickey." "He's a good guy." "Yeah!" "Yeah!" "He's kind of skinny." "Well, maybe." "But he's a regular guy, and he's mentally and intell..." "Intellectually." "Well, anyhow, he's a darn brainy kid, and I think we can use him." "Yeah, but he only weighs 64 pounds." "You mean with all his clothes on?" "Yeah, that's not enough for his height." "Why, he's taller than I am." "Well, we can fatten him up." "I'll get him my mother's diet list." "She took it to get thin and gained 15 pounds on it!" "Ok, what do you say?" "Let's vote on him." "All those in favor, thumbs up, and those against, thumbs down." "Well, I guess he's in." "Notify him and send him an application blank." "Anybody else?" "Uh..." "I'd like to propose" "Rodney bitts." "[All hollering]" "[Gavel]" "Order!" "Order!" "Order!" "First crack out of the box, he'd hightail it over to his old man's bank and start blattin'." "You mean lying'." "Now wait a minute, fellas." "Just because I had a fight with him..." "Well, he had no business picking on verman!" "I know, but remember this:" "We're g-men, and a g-man can't let his feelings influence his personal judgment." "If you think Rodney would be a good operator, why..." "Then maybe he would, if we took him in hand and trained him right." "It's up to you to take him in with us." "If you ask me, he's still a pain." "[Gavel] Order." "We'll put him through the ropes." "You never can tell." "He may turn out to be a regular guy under our system." "He's still a pain." "[Gavel] Order!" "We'll vote on him." "All those in favor, thumbs up;" "Those against, thumbs down." "Well, I guess that settles that." "[All hollering]" "[Humming]" "Oh, Delia, you'll make some hollandaise for the asparagus." "Mr. schofield's so fond of it." "If he don't quit eating all those fancy sauces, he's gonna lose his waistline." "But you will make it?" "You know, penrod likes it, too." "[Giggling] I kind of like it myself." "[Door closes]" "Oh, there you are, dear." "You're a little late, aren't you?" "Yep." "Why, what's the matter, dear?" "You look as if you've lost your last friend." "Yes, well I don't look half as bad as I feel." "Penrod home yet?" "Not yet, dear." "Has anything happened to him?" "No, but something's going to." "Frank, tell me." "What's wrong?" "Well, penrod's been fighting today." "He has?" "Ohh, with whom?" "Rodney bitts." "Rodney bitts, that hulk." "If he's beaten penrod..." "He didn't." "I wish he had..." "Almost." "Why, Frank schofield!" "I do!" "It all depends upon whose ox is gored." "I suppose if Rodney had been the winner, old man bitts would have gloating all afternoon instead of telling me my boy was a gangster and a rowdy and ought to be in the bastille." "He said that?" "Well, practically." "Well, he'd better pay attention to his own son." "I hope penrod gave Rodney a good thrashing." "[Chuckling] Well, from the little look I got of it, he didn't do a bad job." "You saw them fight?" "They were fighting right outside the bank, right on main street." "But darling, why didn't you stop them?" "Oh, bitts and I ran around to stop them, but by the time we got to the front door the fight was over and everybody had disappeared..." "Everybody except Rodney, who came crying in to his father and telling how penrod and his gang..." "Well, that's what he called them..." "Had jumped on him without giving him a chance." "I don't believe it." "Of course you don't, and I don't." "But old man bitts does, and it isn't going to make it any easier for me to have him think that." "There are 100 boys up there at that school that he could have fights with, and it would mean nothing in my life." "But no..." "He's got to pick out the son of the man I work for to beat up!" "What are you going to say to him?" "Plenty!" "Now, Frank, please control yourself." "Maybe it wasn't penrod's fault." "I don't care whose fault it was!" "I will not have penrod fighting with Rodney!" "[Whistling]" "Duke, come on." "[Whistling]" "Hi, mom!" "Hi, dad!" "You better go wash your hands and face, dear." "Dinner will be ready in a few minutes." "Yes, mother." "Just a moment, penrod!" "What would you think if you saw your father fighting and rolling around in the street, punching another man and acting like a..." "I don't know what." "Well, if you saw him picking on somebody you thought you oughta protect, or maybe he said something about your family." "I don't care what the provocation was." "I will not have you disgracing your mother and me by street fighting." "Well, if you're speaking for me, dear," "I think the reason is penrod..." "Will you please keep out of this?" "You don't understand boys the way I do." "I think I understand my own son." "Why, you told him yourself that it was his duty to protect the weak at all times." "I will not have him behaving like a young hoodlum!" "You don't have to shout." "You've asked the boy a question..." "he answered you." "Now you're angry because he has." "You don't even give him a chance to explain." "I don't think that's being fair." "I'll talk to you later, penrod..." "Alone." "Yes, sir." "And you go without your supper." "Never mind, dear." "Delia, I want you to fix penrod's dinner on a tray for him and take it up to his room." "Is he sick?" "Shhh." "He's being punished." "What's he done now?" "I don't know, Delia." "Is the supreme court mad at him?" "Who?" "The supreme court..." "Mr. schofield." "Well, you'd think it was a matter for the supreme court, the amount of importance given to it." "Well, maybe this hollandaise sauce will make him feel better." "I hope so." "[Barking]" "[Barking]" "Hello, Duke!" "I oughta be out in the doghouse with you instead of you coming up here with me." "You know that, Duke?" "Hmm?" "You like that?" "Huh?" "[Laughing] That's a good dog, that's a good dog." "[Footsteps]" "Make yourself scarce, Duke!" "Go on!" "Here's your dinner, penrod." "Thanks, Delia." "Now, I can't give you no second helpings on account of your daddy, so I just kind of beared down on this first one." "Is dad still mad?" "Mm-hmm!" "And I ain't gonna make him no madder by staying up here talking to you." "You could fry an egg right on the back of his neck now." "Duke." "Aww, that's all right." "I wasn't hungry anyway." "Was it good, pal?" "Hey, Duke." "Was it good?" "Hmm?" "Was it good?" "Aren't you going to eat your dinner?" "Well, what's the matter with it?" "Nothing." "I'm not hungry." "Yes, sir?" "Delia, you'd..." "You'd better take some dinner up to penrod." "Oh, I done that before I served you, Mr. schofield." "I got your favorite dessert, Ms. schofield." "Thank you, Delia." "I don't care for any." "Well, then I'll make you a good strong cup of tea." "Please, Delia." "[Whistling]" "If penrod did that, you'd lecture him!" "[Stops]" "Where are you going?" "I'm going to have a talk with that young man." "You'd better finish your dinner." "I have finished it." "Frank schofield, don't you dare lay a hand on that boy." "No?" "[Footsteps]" "Make yourself scarce, Duke!" "Hurry up!" "Penrod..." "Your mother is all upset about what happened today, so I told her that I'd have a talk with you and get some explanation of your conduct." "Go on now, tell it to me in your own way." "I'll listen." "Well, there wasn't much to it, dad." "Sam and piggy and I were coming home from school, and Rodney was throwing chestnuts at verman, and those things hurt." "Verman couldn't make Rodney stop, so..." "I did." "Well, that differs from Rodney's version of it." "I'll bet it does, but that's what happened." "You can ask any of the fellas." "I don't have to ask the fellows." "Don't you think I believe you?" "I didn't want to fight with him..." "Not that I'm scared to." "I wouldn't have minded going up an alley with him." "I didn't want to fight on the street." "Did any of the other boys take part in the fight?" "You know... pile on?" "No." "That's what Rodney told his father." "He would." "Well, they didn't have to." "Sam and piggy knew I could lick him." "Well, you see, penrod," "Mr. bitts believes his boy just the same as I believe you." "Now, it isn't very pleasant for me to have to listen to Mr. bitts tell me all day long what a terrible rowdy you are and how you bully a gang at school who'll do anything you tell them to do." "Now, I don't like it." "Why don't you take a sock at old bitts?" "You can do it." "[Clears throat] Possibly." "But Mr. bitts is the one person in this town, outside of the police force," "I am not going to take a sock at." "I've got to consider my job." "If I didn't have you and your mother to think about, I might be tempted to at times." "But I've got to be diplomatic..." "The same as I'd want you to be." "You see, when you and Rodney have fights of this sort, it only bounces back on me." "And so for my sake, I want you to be..." "A little nicer to Rodney than you would be probably to the rest of the boys." "You see that, don't you?" "Yes, sir." "I'm not asking you to be a softy, but try and get along with Rodney the way I try and get along with his father." "You don't want me to apologize to him, do you?" "No, no, I don't want you to do that, but I do think it would be fine if tomorrow you acted as though nothing had happened and probably were a little nicer to Rodney than maybe you have been." "After school, invite him to join in and play whatever games you boys play." "I never see Rodney after school." "Why not?" "Just don't go around with our gang, that's all." "There's another thing I want to talk to you about, penrod..." "This gang of yours." "Of course, I know some of the boys, but..." "Mr. bitts said something this afternoon that had me worried." "You know..." "What do you and the boys do after school?" "That is, until you come home." "You didn't get in tonight until quite late." "Well..." "We just go around together." "Doing what?" "Oh, nothing much." "You mean to say that you put in the time from 3:00 until 6:00 going around doing nothing?" "Come on, I'm waiting." "I can't tell you, dad." "Well, is it something you're ashamed to tell me?" "No, sir." "Well, then I think I have a right to know." "It might be something I wouldn't approve." "Well, it wouldn't be fair to the g..." "Boys." "All right." "Tomorrow after school, you come home and you stay home." "And the next day, you do the same thing." "In that way, I'll know where you are and what you're doing." "Wait a minute, dad." "Maybe I can tell you." "Yes." "I can swear you in so you can be one of us, but..." "Then you'll be under oath not to tell anyone." "What is it, a secret organization?" "Will you take the oath?" "Yes, I'll take the oath." "Raise your right hand." "I promise to be a real 100% American." "I promise to be a real 100% American." "And to do my bit to help prevent crime." "And to do my bit to help prevent crime." "And to keep my eyes open." "And to keep my eyes open." "And if I ever see any suspicious-looking characters..." "And if I ever see any suspicious-looking characters..." "Or get any clues..." "Or get any clues..." "To get in touch with the police immediately." "To get in touch with the police immediately." "And furthermore..." "And furthermore..." "I promise..." "I promise..." "To never reveal the identity of my fellow workers." "To never reveal the identity of my fellow workers." "Now you're a g-man!" "A g-man!" "So that's it, huh?" "Well, that's fine." "Isn't it awfully quiet up there?" "Maybe the fireworks ain't started yet." "Oh dear, I wish penrod wouldn't fight." "That Rodney bitts!" "Yeah!" "If he was a boy of mine," "I'd lay a black hand on his resting place." "Oh dear, I hope he doesn't whip him." "And that's the way we operate." "I see." "Well, look..." "Couldn't we get Rodney to come in with us?" "Nope." "The boys won't have him, dad." "Oh, they might if you used your influence." "No, you see, I'm like the vice president." "I haven't got anything to say about it except in the case of a tie, and Rodney hasn't even come close to getting that many votes." "Well anyway, I'll have something to tell Mr. bitts now if he calls you boys gangsters again." "No, you mustn't, dad!" "You can't!" "You swore not to say anything." "Oh, that's right." "Well, anyway, I feel better." "[Laughing] So do I." "You want to come downstairs now?" "Yeah." "Oh..." "I'll be down in a few minutes." "All right, chief." "See what my number is." "13!" "I should have joined earlier." "[Both laugh]" "Not that I'm superstitious, but I should've." "Penrod:" "Ok, dad, I'll be down in about 5 minutes." "[Door closes]" "Duke!" "Duke, come here!" "Duke, you know what?" "You've got to get out of here." "Yep." "Will you sign these, please?" "Oh, uh..." "Mr. Bitts." "I haven't had a chance to mention this before today, but I had a talk with my boy last night." "Yes?" "First I want to tell you how sorry I am that such a thing had to happen, and penrod is very much upset about it, too." "Well, he should be." "Yes, sir." "But he's told me that from now on, he and the g..." "uh, the boys... will be the best of friends." "I'm sure that Rodney will be a very good influence for them." "I'm sure he will be, yes, sir, but I have penrod's assurance that from now on there will be no more fighting." "[Loud crying] Dad, he killed me!" "[Crying]" "Dad, he killed me!" "Rodney, what's happened?" "Penrod hit me!" "Penrod!" "Penrod!" "Penrod!" "Why, the little hoodlum!" "Now wait a minute, bitts, wait a minute." "Wait a minute, nothing!" "I've had enough!" "That brat of yours ought to be in the reform school!" "You can't talk that way about my boy!" "It's time somebody did something about him, the dirty little sneak!" "Sneak!" "If anybody's a sneak, it's that boy right there!" "You take that back!" "I'll take nothing back!" "You get out of here!" "I'll get out of here, but..." "You get out of here!" "You take your hands off me!" "Do you realize that I'm the president...?" "I don't care who you are!" "You can't put your hands on me that way!" "That brat of yours will end up in the penitentiary!" "Oh, Mr. bitts!" "Talk about my boy!" "You better watch your own boy, that's what I think." "[Woman screams]" "Rodney:" "Get him, dad!" "Get him!" "Come on, dad!" "Sock him!" "Get him, dad!" "[People talking at once]" "Mr. bitts!" "Mr. bitts!" "Get your hands off me!" "Let go of my foot!" "Get your hands off me!" "Yes, sir." "Yes, sir." "You're through!" "You're fired!" "And you men get back to work!" "You get inside... oof!" "Ha ha ha ha ha!" "Get in there!" "You're the cause of this whole thing!" "[Mr. bitts muttering]" "[Door slams]" "Duke!" "Is that you, penrod?" "Yes, mother." "Penrod..." "Penrod." "You've been fighting again." "I don't blame your father." "He's perfectly right." "You're getting to be a regular little roughneck." "Wait until he comes home and sees the condition you're in." "[Door closes]" "Frank, you've got to do something about..." "What's happened, dear?" "Well," "I've been fighting." "Fighting?" "Yes." "With whom?" "Old man bitts." "Bitts of all people!" "Now I know you've gone crazy." "And you have the nerve to stand up and lecture your son..." "Oh!" "Did you lick him, dad?" "Me, too." "Shake!" "Sam:" "Well, why didn't he?" "But the umpire said it wasn't any good!" "Well, they could at least said he was safe." "What's slats up to?" "Looks like he's got something hot." "Who is it?" "Looks like the guy on the poster that's wanted for bigamy." "Yep!" "He's got the same kind of hat and the poster said he always carried a cane." "Hot diggety!" "There's $1,000 reward for him!" "Oh, boy!" "Come on, slats, get him." "Nitwit!" "That's our new minister." "I never saw him before." "That makes your score 100% perfect for guys you never saw before." "[Groans]" "We better put him in another department." "He's gone screwy with that camera." "Yeah, the next thing you know, he'll be taking X-ray pictures of his aunt Lulu's gallstones." "[Woman screams]" "[Siren wailing]" "[Gunshots]" "What was that?" "Sounds like backfiring of a car." "Yeah?" "Well, that's gunfire!" "Verman?" "Verman?" "What's all that noise, mommy?" "I don't know, child." "It sounds like guns." "You come on..." "Get in here!" "[Kids screaming]" "Cop:" "Look out for those kids!" "Hang on, boys!" "Verman, crying:" "Mommy!" "Cop:" "Come on, children!" "Get going!" "Who is it?" "It's Mrs. diggs, the washwoman." "Here, doctor!" "Doctor!" "My mama!" "I want my mama!" "Mama!" "I want my mommy!" "I want my mom!" "Mama!" "I want my mommy!" "Verman, don't cry." "Gotta grit your teeth." "Remember, you're a g-man." "That's right." "Smile, just a little." "I want my mommy!" "[Sobbing]" "Penrod, will you please stop that?" "What's the matter with you?" "You know what's the matter." "Now, verman's all right." "He's with friends of his mother." "Is he gonna live with them all the time?" "Well, no." "They're poor people with a lot of children of their own." "But don't worry, dear." "He'll be provided for." "The county takes good care of little boys like him." "Well, why did they have to send him to an orphan asylum?" "Now, there's nothing wrong with an orphan asylum." "Well, I still can't see why dad won't let us adopt him." "I've explained why." "Oh, dad gives me a..." "Well, here's good news." "Yes?" "They got one of those gangsters." "Only one?" "The abandoned car was discovered about 20 feet off the main road this side of meadow creek bridge." "The dead man was found slumped in the back seat." "The g-men will get 'em." "The cops has got every road blocked." "I hope they shoot every doggone one of them!" "Penrod!" "Don't be so bloodthirsty." "Well, they killed verman's mother, didn't they?" "I know but that's no reason..." "well?" "Now darling, you'd better run along." "Wash your hands and face." "It's just about dinner time." "Oh, all right." "What's the matter with him?" "He's still worrying about poor little verman." "Oh." "Why, you sap!" "What are you trying to do, throw out a flare so those bulls can start blasting?" "They can't shoot me." "I'm out of season." "Aw, save your wisecracks." "What are you gonna do, sit here until they call out the militia?" "Yeah, it looks like they already have." "I'm so hungry I could eat the bark off this tree." "Well, you got your cut of the dough." "Why don't you hop into town and grab yourself a hamburger?" "No, I'll press the button and have one delivered." "I'll press you in the button if you don't shut up." "But dad, why can't you..." "Now see here, penrod, you've got to stop this nonsense." "I've told you before we can't adopt verman." "Now, you're old enough to understand that." "Sure, I understand." "But that's what I'm trying to tell you." "Nobody wants him or cares what happens to him." "Well, you'll have to quit carrying the world on your shoulders." "Mother:" "You've got a lot of homework, penrod." "You better get started at it." "Now, run along, be a good boy." "We'll be back in a couple of hours." "Oh, all right." "Good night, mother." "Good night, son." "That's the first time he hasn't kissed me." "Well Frank, you are a little hard on him." "He's very fond of verman." "He's all upset about it." "Well, he'll just have to snap out of it, that's all." "Father:" "And remember a 2-low trump bid is not a demand bid." "Oh, don't start that." "[Doorbell rings]" "Buzz:" "Oh, Mrs. schofield, is verman with penrod?" "Why, no." "I'd..." "Do you know where he is?" "No, why?" "He's gone!" "We thought maybe he was over here." "He's been gone for a couple hours, and we can't find him anyplace." "See, I told you." "He's run away." "Oh, nonsense." "He's probably around at one of the neighbors'." "Oh no, Mr. schofield." "We looked everywhere." "I knew he didn't want to go to the orphan asylum." "You're making a Mountain out of a molehill." "Yeah, well he's gone, isn't he?" "Wait a minute, buzz, I'll go with you." "We'll find him." "You're not going to leave this house tonight." "I've gotta." "We gotta find him, don't we?" "Oh, be sensible, penrod." "If he has disappeared, I'll notify the police." "Police?" "Listen, dad..." "Excuse us, mother." "[Whispering] Verman's a g-man." "So are you and me." "Don't you think it's our duty to find him?" "Well, maybe you're right." "Come along, Laura." "We'll take a look for him." "[Whistles]" "He can't have gone far." "He's so little." "I guess it's gonna be kind of hard to find him in the dark." "[Whistles]" "[Penrod whistling]" "[Whistles]" "Wait a minute!" "[Whistles]" "[Whistles]" "That's him!" "He's in the cemetery." "Mrs. schofield:" "Why... child!" "What are you doing here?" "I was afraid mommy would get cold." "I guess it is up to us, Frank." "Yes, dear." "Delia:" "How you doing, honey?" "[Mumbling with mouth full]" "You sure sound like you's on good terms with it." "Is I gonna live here forever?" "Your gonna be my little boy from here on." "Hot soup!" "That's something!" "Morning, dad!" "Good morning, son." "I'm sorry about last night, dad." "I didn't mean to get sore at you." "I understand." "Then you're not sore at me?" "Of course not, chief." "Dad, you're tops!" "Hi, chief." "Look out for her, verman." "She almost washed off one of my ears, once." "A good washing wouldn't hurt right now." "You got a potato growing out of this one." "Well, you're not going to work on me." "Come on, verman!" "We're going down to the barn." "He has to stay here." "I got to get his clothes fixed up." "Can he come down later?" "So as I put a shine on him." "Ok, I'll be seeing you." "Hey, wait a minute." "How long we gonna keep this up?" "Quite belly-aching, will you?" "Aw, shut your trap." "I don't know what you two smart guys are gonna do, but I've had enough." "I'm gonna make break for it." "And let one of those bulls take a potshot at you?" "Now I know you got a screw loose." "Oh, yeah?" "Wait a minute, you stupid..." "why you..." "Do I have to knock you cold?" "What are we gonna do?" "I'll tell you what we're gonna do." "See that barn over there?" "Looks to me like it's deserted." "We hole in it today, and tonight we'll grab a car." "If I have to I'll go down and get the fire engines." "Duck!" "Well, there's another hunch gone wrong." "Any luck, Joe?" "Nope." "I'm beginning to think those guys gave us the slip." "Don't kid yourself." "They're still around here somewhere." "I think we beat down this cornfield." "Naw, we covered every foot of it." "Come on, let's go." "What a break." "What do you mean?" "It's a perfect setup." "They won't search that place again." "Come on." "Are you the boys that play down in that barn?" "Yes, sir." "What are you doing with all those pictures of crooks?" "Oh, we're g-men." "Cop:" "Oh, so you're g-men." "Have you seen any suspicious-looking characters hanging around there?" "You mean those fellows that robbed the bank?" "Yes." "No, we haven't seem 'em yet." "Do you think they're around here?" "No, son." "We just got through searching." "You boys keep your eyes open." "All right, let's go." "You know what?" "What?" "We gotta help those cops catch those crooks." "How?" "We'll call a special meeting and figure it out scientifically." "Yeah." "We'll pretend that we're the crooks and figure out where we'd go if we were them." "We'll go there and they'll be there." "Well, maybe." "Ok, carry out the orders." "I'll meet you at the barn later." "I got you, chief." "[Whistling]" "[Whistles]" "[Whistling]" "[Kids shouting]" "[Whistles]" "Boy:" "Hey, gimme the ball!" "What's up, chief?" "Penrod:" "Special meeting, very important." "Come on, hurry up." "Ok." "[Penrod whistling]" "[Penrod whistling]" "[Chattering]" "Penrod:" "Come on, hurry up." "Now, Sam, you go get that map." "All right." "Penrod:" "Fellows..." "You all know that the cops haven't caught those 3 guys that robbed the bank." "Everybody thinks they're somewhere around this town but the question is:" "Where?" "I was talking to an officer a little while ago and they seem to be up against it." "In fact, they suggested that we... being g-men..." "Might be able to help." "Boy:" "How?" "By keeping our eyes and ears open." "Do you think they're around this place?" "Penrod:" "No." "The cops just got through searching this..." "Vi..." "Vicinity!" "And there wasn't a sign of them." "Now, we've got a well-trained organization here, and it's up to us to help." "Now, here's the idea:" "I want every one of you to go immediately to your different territories and start checking up." "We haven't got any guns or automobiles to chase 'em with if we did find 'em." "All you've gotta do is get a line on 'em, any kind of a clue for the cops to work on." "They'll do the rest." "Slats, you go down to the depot, and if anybody gets on the train get a picture of 'em..." "And I don't mean the conductor." "If you get any tips, get in touch with headquarters right away." "But remember, watch your step!" "They're dangerous guys... killers." "Don't forget they're the ones that..." "Killed verman's mother." "We mustn't lose a minute rounding up a gang that would do a thing like that..." "Kill a nice woman like Mrs. diggs and making an orphan out of a little boy." "I want my mommy!" "I want my mommy." "I want my mommy." "Penrod:" "I'm sorry, verman." "I didn't mean to make you feel bad." "Don't cry, verman, we know how you feel." "But look, if you'd stop crying we'll make you a g-man." "A real, 100% g-man!" "Will you?" "Sure!" "We'll do it right now." "Then I won't have to be an outlook man anymore." "No, how 'bout it, fellas?" "All:" "Sure!" "Penrod:" "There you are." "Hot soup!" "Penrod:" "All right, men, now you better get going." "Now verman, you go with slats." "See you later." "[Kids chatting]" "Penrod:" "Hey, Sam?" "What?" "I've got a hunch." "You know that old mine shaft out by the garfield road?" "Yeah." "Bet you that's where those crooks are hiding." "Maybe you're right." "The cops would never think of looking there." "Sure, it's a nifty hiding place." "Let's see if we can find a shortcut." "Where's my finger mitt?" "Slats:" "Gosh, I forgot I left it in the barn." "That's a fine trick to play on a guy." "I lend you my finger mitt and then you leave it in the barn." "Well, go on and get it!" "I can't right now." "I got some important business to attend to." "Them's the chief's orders." "Why don't you go and get it yourself?" "I don't want to have any part of penrod." "Aw, he won't hurt you." "He's the one who'll get hurt if he starts making any passes at me." "And don't you ask me to lend you anything again." "You think he'll hurt the chief?" "Not a chance." "I think I'll go back." "The chief might need me." "No, you're supposed to stay with me." "Nope, I'm going back!" "All right, then." "Come on, let's go." "[Clunk]" "What was that?" "Sounds like somebody up in the hayloft." "You know what?" "What?" "I bet it's Rodney." "If it is I'll bust him in the nose." "Take it easy." "Guess there must have been some rats." "What made you think of the old mine shaft?" "Aw, just a hunch." "Sam:" "Suppose we do find them..." "What do we do?" "There's 3 of 'em, and they're pretty tough mugs." "Wouldn't you be scared?" "Scared of them?" "Well, why?" "Why, all you have to do is just to line 'em up against the wall and let 'em know you're the boss." "Why, you'll find out they got a streak of yellow a mile wide." "Why, I'd just put a few flips on 'em..." "Gimme that rod!" "Wait!" "Penrod:" "They got me!" "Let go of me!" "Take it easy, kid." "Let go of me!" "Hey, penrod!" "Penrod!" "I want my finger mitt!" "Penrod:" "Beat it, Rodney!" "I won't go until I get my..." "Penrod:" "Beat it, Rodney!" "These are the..." "Man:" "Hey!" "Come here!" "[Rodney yelling]" "Listen, you..." "Shut up!" "Penrod:" "You better shut up, Rodney." "I told you these were gangsters." "That's dude hanson." "What ever gave you that idea, kid?" "That picture over there." "That's you." "How do you like that, smart guy?" "Good likeness too, hanson." "Looks like you got a toupee on." "They'll shave that off when he hits the hot seat." "Hanson:" "Hey, if you don't shut your mouth," "I'll... [rumbling] What's that?" "[Arf arf]" "[Barks]" "Go!" "Go..." "hey, come on back here." "I'll talk care of that mutt." "Penrod:" "Stop it!" "Go on home!" "Penrod:" "Stop!" "That's my dog!" "Aw, get away!" "Stop!" "Stop!" "You'll kill him!" "Oh, you chump!" "What's the matter with you?" "Listen, wiseguy, you better get rid of those kids too, while you got the chance." "Take it easy, left!" "You can't do that!" "No?" "They got a murder rap against us." "You want them to put the finger on us?" "You've killed him!" "You've killed him!" "I'll get you for this!" "All right, get up in that hayloft." "Come on!" "And no funny business!" "Know what I mean?" "What are you doing, going soft on us?" "Oh, quite popping off, stupid." "If it comes to a showdown, we use those kids as shields to fight our way out of here." "Yeah." "You think he'll be all right?" "I think so." "Doesn't look like he's got any bones broke." "You'll be all right." "You a good tough one." "Look, he's opening his eyes!" "Oh, Duke!" "Duke?" "Duke?" "Come on, Duke." "That's a boy." "That's a boy." "Poor little guy." "Those dirty..." "Hitting a poor little dog." "I didn't think you liked Duke that much." "Aw, sure I do." "I guess I've been kind of a heel, penrod." "I ain't got nothing agin you." "I ain't got nothing against you, either, Rodney." "Well, I was kind of sore 'cause you wouldn't let me play with you guys." "Penrod:" "I know." "I guess we all had the wrong slant on you." "Oh, I don't blame you." "I did pull a couple of bloomers." "Yeah!" "Aw, that's all right, Rodney." "Oh, forget it." "I always knew you was a regular guy." "And we're gonna make you a g-man." "Honest?" "Sure." "That'll be swell." "Gee, if we only had some guns we could capture those guys." "It's too bad." "Here we've got 'em right in the hollow of our hand." "Delia!" "You back off this clean floor!" "Just look at your feet!" "But Delia, Rodney's in the barn." "There's a man!" "I don't care if there's 100 men, you get off this here floor." "But Rodney and penrod..." "Don't tell me them two sprouts have been fighting again." "No." "A man grabbed Rodney and pulled him..." "If that boy don't behave his self the police will get him." "He didn't do nothing." "I saw a man, the chief." "What's the matter with you, boy?" "You talking like you got your mouth full of buttons." "I knows what I's talking about." "Well, you go on out to the barn and play with the boys." "That's it!" "What's it?" "The barn." "I's afraid." "Afraid of the barn?" "No, the man in the barn." "What man?" "What are you talking about?" "A dirty, mean, nasty man grabbed Rodney and yanked him in the barn." "And Sam and the chief are in there, too." "And he banged the door shut." "A man..." "Pulled Rodney..." "In the barn?" "Yeah." "Oh, miss schofield?" "Miss schofield?" "Oh, miss schofield?" "What is it, Delia?" "Verman says a man grabbed hold of Rodney and pulled him in the barn." "Penrod and Sam are there, too." "Yes, ma'am." "We were gonna catch those gangsters today." "Gangsters..." "Oh merciful heavens!" "Oh, miss schofield, you don't think..." "It may be one of those men who robbed the bank!" "Frank... oh, Frank!" "I'm afraid something terrible has happened." "Verman says a man grabbed Rodney and yanked him into the barn." "Penrod's down there, too." "I'll call the sheriff right away." "It may be one of those gangsters that robbed the bank." "You get the car out." "Hello?" "Give me the sheriff's office." "Hello?" "Oh yes, Mr. schofield." "What's that?" "Well, all right." "We'll investigate right away." "Mr. schofield says that some rough-looking character's just grabbed one of the youngsters out at the his barn." "He seems to think it might be one of the hanson gang." "Well, if it is hanson, he wouldn't hesitate a second to grab a kid for a shield." "Well, we just searched that barn." "All right, we'll go again." "Tom, bring some gas bombs." "Those kids pretty quiet up there?" "Forget about the kids." "Are you game?" "I wouldn't take a chance." "They might kill ya." "Oh, I can make it." "They're clear over by the table." "I'll bring back the cops." "Why, you chump!" "You want every bull in the country here?" "That sounds like cars." "Suds, grab that kid!" "Tommy, you go round that side of he barn." "All right, boys, spread out." "Now, you folks will all have to stand back until we investigate." "But my boy is in there." "We'll be careful." "But you must let us handle it." "Rodney is in there." "Our boy is in there too, Mr. bitts." "[Gunshot]" "Hey, gimme that kid." "What's the idea?" "What do you think?" "No hick sheriff's gonna take me." "Suds:" "Hey you kids, come on down here." "Oh!" "Hey, you kids!" "Didn't I tell you to come down?" "Come on down here." "Hear me?" "Hey, what are you doing?" "Hey, cut is out!" "Oh, oh!" "Hey!" "Hey!" "Oh!" "[Duke barking]" "Get away from that door!" "Hanson:" "Come here!" "Come on!" "Come on, we've got to get out of here." "Here take Duke!" "They're gonna make a run for it." "And the first one that sticks his head out that door, let him have it!" "[Woman screams] Penrod:" "Look out!" "[Boom]" "Don't shoot, don't shoot!" "It's the boys!" "Penrod!" "Come on, get him!" "Penrod!" "My boy is in there." "[All talking at once]" "Penrod:" "Dad!" "All right, get 'em up." "That's it!" "[Chattering]" "Sheriff:" "Boys!" "Boys, I'm proud of you!" "It wasn't me, it was Sam." "It wasn't me, it was Rodney." "Aw, what do you mean?" "It wasn't me, it was penrod." "It was not!" "Aw, what do you mean?" "Man:" "Whoever it was, I'll see that you boys get a personal letter from Mel perdue at the department of justice." "[Celebrating]" "Stand back, everybody." "Stand back." "I want to get a picture." "All right." "Still!" "Still!" "[Laughing and yelling]" "Frank: "Department of justice, Washington."" ""Bureau of investigation junior g-men organization," ""orrville, Ohio." ""Gentlemen," ""you have set a marvelous example" ""as true red-blooded Americans" ""and richly deserve the thanks and gratitude of your country." ""I remain sincerely yours, j.W. Baldwin, agent in charge."" "[Applause]" "And now, Mr. bitts has something to say to you." "Mr. bitts." "Boys..." "I mean..." "Fellow members, the sheriff has appointed me, a committee of one, to present you with a reward." "I uh..." "I have here the check." "Mr. schofield..." "And I..." "Have decided that it be distributed evenly among you, to be held in trust by your respected parents, this being the usual procedure in cases of this kind." "We... we trust this meets with your approval." "Mr. bitts:" "Yes, penrod, what is it?" "Rodney has just made a swell suggestion and I'd like to make it a motion." "Yes, what is it?" "Well, you see, operator 23, all us boys except one has got fathers and mothers..." "And pretty nice ones, too." "Well, I don't think we really need the money so we'd like to make it a motion to put it in the bank for the one member who hasn't got a father and mother so he could always be taken care of" "and go to school and when he grew up go to a college." "I'm talking about operator 19, verman diggs." "Boy:" "I second the motion." "Second boy:" "Me, too!" "[All cheering]" "Well, operator 19, it looks to me as though you're going to college and learn to become a doctor or a lawyer or a banker like operator 23." "Does I have to be a banker?" "[Chuckles]" "What do you want to be?" "A Pullman Porter." "[Laughter]" "Well, if you're going to be a Pullman Porter, you better start making up your berth right now." "Penrod?" "Ok, fellows, meeting's adjourned." "Good night!" "Thank you very much!" "Good night!" "Good night!" "Good night, Mr. schofield." "Good night."