The fifty-fourth episode of the first season of Dennis the Menace (1986).
Househusband Henry
When Alice leaves for the day, Henry is left to take care of the house, and Dennis. Dennis tries to to help Henry out with the cooking, the laundry and housework, each time resulting in Henry calling for emergencies.
Wheeling and Double-Dealing
A bully named Winston wrecks PeeBee's science project, then challenges him and Dennis to a perpetual motion cross country race. During the race, Winston and his buddies pull off various cheat tactics to stop them. Can Dennis and PeeBee overcome the cheats to win?
Stop That Car!
Henry plans to take Dennis, Joey, and PeeBee to an auto safety show. When PeeBee arrives in his special car, he reveals his secret fuel booster formula to his friends and Dennis proceeds to put it in his father's car. The gang get the ride of their lives as the car zooms at amazing speeds all over the city, then displays a remarkable performance at the daredevil automobile show before the car runs out of gas, much to Henry's relief. However, the police give him a summons to appear at traffic safety school.
"Househusband Henry" provides examples of:
- Alliterative Title: Househusband Henry.
- Cordon Bleugh Chef: Dennis, being a six-year-old boy, isn't exactly what you'd call an experienced chef when he makes Henry breakfast.
- Domestic Appliance Disaster: Dennis' house becomes flooded with soap bubbles when Dennis puts too much soap in the washing machine, and as a result, Henry has to call the emergency services.
- Even the Rats Won't Touch It: When Ruff sniffs the breakfast Dennis made for Henry, he shudders.
- House Husband: Henry takes on this role in this episode.
- Rule of Three: Henry calls the emergency services three times in this episode. First, when Dennis puts too much soap in the washing machine and his house is flooded with soap bubbles, then when Dennis hangs from a tree trying to dry the wet clothes, then finally when his roast catches fire and Dennis moves all of the furniture out of the house to sweep the floor.
"Wheeling and Double-Dealing" provides examples of:
- Bears Are Bad News: Winston's lackeys disguise themselves as bears as part of their plan to stop Dennis and PeeBee. The two are then chased away by a real bear in a lovestruck state.
- The Big Race: After Winston destroys PeeBee's science project, Dennis challenges him and his lackeys to race against him and PeeBee in the perpetual motion race.
- Big, Thin, Short Trio: Winston is the Thin, and his two lackeys are the Big and Short.
- Disguised in Drag: Winston disguises himself as an old lady, using the clothes of the old lady he kidnapped, to trick Dennis and PeeBee into helping him so that he can steal their perpetual motion race car.
- The Dog Bites Back: After Winston loses the race, he insults the three rats that powered his perpetual motion race car. The three rats then summon an entire swarm of rats to chase Winston and his lackeys away.
- Exit, Pursued by a Bear:
- Perhaps a literal example; PeeBee and Dennis' perpetual motion race car is stopped by Winston's lackeys, both of whom are disguised as bears. The two bullies are then chased away by a real bear, who is in a lovestruck state.
- At the end of the episode, after losing the race, Winston and his two lackeys are chased away by a swarm of rats after the former insults the three that powered his perpetual motion race car.
- Expressive Mask: The masks of the bear costumes that Winston's lackeys wear have their mouths move when they talk.
- Hamster-Wheel Power: Winston's perpetual motion race car is powered by three rats running on a wheel.PeeBee: It's just like you to be powered by rats!
Winston: Hey, why have friends if you can't take advantage of them? - Parasol of Pain: Winston kidnaps an old lady and disguises himself in her clothes to trick Dennis and PeeBee into helping him so he can steal their perpetual motion race car. Once Dennis finds the real old lady and rescues her, she wastes no time getting back at Winston for what he did to her.Old Lady: (smacking Winston with her umbrella) I'll teach you to mistreat a helpless old lady!
Winston: I already know how! - Pun: This exchange when Dennis and PeeBee come across Winston's lackeys, both of whom are dressed as bears:PeeBee: Hello. Can we be of any help?
Lackey #1: Just bear-ly.
Lackey #2: We seem to have lost our bear-ings. - Railroad Tracks of Doom: Winston's lackeys sabotage Dennis and PeeBee's road map by drawing a line on it, leading the two to drive onto a set of railroad tracks. A train approaches them, but fortunately, they get out of the way before it can hit them.
- Read the Map Upside Down: Winston's lackeys sabotage Dennis and PeeBee's road map by drawing a line on it to lead Dennis and PeeBee in the wrong direction. When the two drive their perpetual motion race car into a lake, the line washes off, and the two realize they've been tricked.
- Terrible Trio: Winston and his two lackeys, a trio of bullies who destroy PeeBee's science project and try to sabotage his and Dennis' chances of winning the perpetual motion race.
- Wingding Eyes:
- The Bear's eyes are shaped like hearts when she stares lovingly at Winston's lackeys in their bear disguises.
- Winston's pupils turn into skulls when he sees a bridge that he plans to destroy so Dennis and PeeBee can't cross it.
"Stop That Car!" provides examples of:
- Circling Birdies: Stars spin around the heads of two cops when Henry's car speeds past their police car, spinning it as a result.
- Comically Missing the Point: When Henry's car starts to speed out of control, Henry says that he must be having a nightmare. Joey says that's not possible, as it's only 3:00 in the afternoon.
- Easy Come, Easy Go: Henry wins a trophy for successfully making a Ramp Jump, but a police officer takes the trophy away and gives Henry a summons to Traffic Safety School.
- Now You Tell Me: As Dennis pours PeeBee's formula into the gas tank of Henry's car, PeeBee tells Dennis to pour in just the tiniest bit. By the time PeeBee finishes talking, the beaker is empty.
- Ramp Jump: When Henry, Dennis, Joey, and PeeBee arrive at the Auto Show, Henry drives his car off a ramp, through a ring of fire, and over several cars.
