The Flintstones

There's the bell.

That's the old footwork, Barney.

Barney hasn't hit him yet.

Barney couldn't hit the floor with his hat.

- How am I doing, pal? - Great, pal. Just great.

- Fred? Oh, Fred? - Yeah, Wilma.

Have you seen the newspaper?

I'm reading it.

- Can I have a piece of it, please? - Okay. Just a minute.

Here. Now don't get it all mixed up. I haven't read that section yet.

- Thanks, Fred. - You're welcome.

- Hey, Fred. - Barney. Come on in, pal.

No. You come out, Fred. I want you to do me a favor.

All right. I'll be right out.

Favors. That's all that Barney wants. What a neighbor.

Before you even ask, I'm telling you I'm broke.

That I know, Fred. But can you keep a secret?

Secret? What secret?

You know how Betty keeps harping about...

how I never bought her an engagement ring before we was married?

Yeah, I should know. Wilma gives me the same routine.

I've got a surprise for Betty. Get a load of this.

Wow!

What a sparkler! How did you get it, Barney?

A down payment at the Buddy Buddy Credit Jewelers. How else?

Four hundred and twenty easy payments and it's mine.

That's great. Just great.

When are you gonna spring the big surprise on Betty?

I don't want to give it to her till Saturday.

So do me a favor, will you, pal?

You keep it in your house till then...

and that way Betty won't accidentally find it...

-and spoil my surprise. - Okay, Barney-boy.

- What a shiny rock! - But be careful with it, Fred.

Don't worry, Barney. It'll be safe with old Fred.

Thanks a lot, pal.

That Fred. He's one of the good ones.

Now let's see.

Where will I hide the ring so Wilma won't find it and blab to Betty?

Wait a minute. That's it. I'll hide it in the flour.

With all these new frozen pies, Wilma never does any baking anymore.

That'll do it.

Fred.

Hiya, Wilma.

What in the world are you doing up on that chair?

What do you think I'd be doing up on a chair?

- I saw a mouse. That's what. - Okay.

You're in one of your mysterious moods today. Have fun.

That's the old fast thinking.

Freddie-boy, the quick ad-lib artist.

Yes, sir.

What's that sound? I haven't heard that for years.

Oh, yeah, the egg beater.

Wilma must be making a cake. A cake!

The ring!

Hold it!

What do you think you're doing?

I think I'm making a cake for my loudmouth husband...

who is acting like he flipped his lid today.

I don't want a cake, Wilma. It's too...

Go ahead, Fred. Say it. I dare you.

Okay. It's too fattening.

I've got to watch my weight, don't I?

That ought to be easy. There's so much to watch.

Droll. Very droll.

You made a real funny.

Now what's he up to?

Fred, why did you take the flour into the bedroom?

- Fred, come out of there. - You called, Wilma?

What's the matter with you? Have you lost your mind?

Go take a shower and let the cold water run on your head.

The ring wasn't in the flour canister, so it's got to be in the batter.

Fred! What are you peeking around corners for?

I didn't want to startle you.

I was going to run over and borrow an egg from Betty...

but I don't know if I should leave you alone.

What do you mean? I'm all right. Go ahead.

Okay. But I'll be right back.

She's gone. Now's my chance to get that ring.

Fred, when are you going to grow up?

Get your hand out of that batter and help me with this dodo egg.

Imagine. Eating cake batter.

Why, you can't even wait until I bake the cake you don't want.

There. Finally in the oven.

Now, Fred, you stay away from this oven.

- If you open it, the cake will fall. - All right.

Fred's in an odd mood today.

I'd better leave him alone for a while.

I'd better not. I'll get the ring out of the cake after it's baked.

I'll go ahead and read a book, get it off my mind.

"And the big bad saber-toothed tiger asked Little Red Riding Hood...

"what she had in the basket.

"She opened the basket and said, 'I'm going to give Grandma this nice cake.'"

Cake? That did it. Now it's on my mind again.

I bet I could get that ring out without Wilma knowing it.

I did it.

Fred, I asked you not to open that oven door.

I said, "Fred, don't open that oven door." But, no.

Nosey has to open the oven door and see what's inside.

So that will be the last cake I ever baked for you.

You want me to take the garbage can out?

No. I'll do it myself.

- I'll get the ring out of the can later. - That was lucky.

- The garbage truck was just passing by. - The garbage truck! Oh, no!

This is a stickup.

Raise your hands and don't turn around.

Okay, I've got what I want.

Put your hands down and just keep moving.

I just don't get it.

What kind of a screwball would hijack a garbage truck?

It wasn't easy but I got it.

Now to make sure that won't happen again.

Let's see. I'll try the closet this time.

That's it. The bowling ball.

I'll hide the ring in the finger hole.

She'll never find it in this old bowling ball.

Now I'll tell Barney it's hidden in a safe place.

Barney!

Why is It men refuse to close doors?

Even the closet door is open.

There.

That old bowling ball.

I'll put that in a safe place. I'll bury it in the yard.

No!

It's a diamond ring.

No wonder Fred was acting so mysterious today.

Bless his little fat heart.

I don't want to spoil Fred's surprise.

But I've just got to show this to Betty before I put it back.

Wilma, it's simply gorgeous.

I wish I could get Barney to get me one.

But he's so...

- Conservative? - No.

- Frugal? - No.

Cautious?

No, but when you get to "stingy" slow down, you'll be getting warm.

I bet if you hinted to Barney, he'd get you one. That's how I got this.

I hinted for 10 years. But it paid off.

Well, maybe if I hint twice as hard, it'll only take me five years.

I know this sounds nutty...

but I've got to get back and put my ring back in the bowling ball.

Bye, Wilma. You lucky girl.

That's right, Barney.

When I make a promise, I keep it.

I've got that ring hidden where no one can find it.

You're a real pal, Freddie-boy.

- And real lucky too. - Lucky nothing. That's the way I played it.

I have to get home now, Barney.

Wilma was pretty sore when I left.

- I'll see you later, pal. - So long, Fred.

Wilma, honey. May I come in?

Darling, you're home at last. You lie down and rest...

while I fix you a few dinosaur steak sandwiches.

My mother was wrong, Fred.

You are a swell guy.

I'll be right back with the food, Jack.

She's flipped. I've gone too far.

Fred, look.

Strike. Get it?

It's all my fault. I've been a bad husband.

Strike? Yeah, I get it.

- Don't tell me you found the ring. - Yes, Fred.

And it's the sweetest thing you ever did.

- But, Wilma, you don't understand. - Yes, I do, Fred.

- No. - I know how you must have...

scrimped and saved for 10 years to get me this ring.

And to think you love me that much just chokes me up.

When Barney finds out, I'm the one that's gonna get all choked up.

- Look, Fred. isn't it lovely? - Yeah.

Wear it in good health.

Hey, Barney!

- Is that you, Fred? - Yeah.

Come on up here, I've got something to tell you.

Be right with you, good old frugal Fred.

What's on your mind, pal?

Barney, would you do me a favor?

You just name it, pal. Just name it.

Will you forget about the ring for Betty?

I just gave it to Wilma.

You're a card, Fred.

"Forget about the ring, I just gave it to Wilma."

Hilarious.

I'm not kidding. I mean it.

Before you lose your temper, let me explain.