Tom Sawyer doesn't like school much. Escaping from the schoolhouse, he's off to the woods to catch a wild pig with his friend Huck. Their attempts to sell the pig at the harbor end with a wild disturbance on the steamboat.
Tom is dismayed when Aunt Polly tells him he must spend his Saturday whitewashing the fence. Too long to paint in one day, Tom convinces his friends of the joys of the job, and soon has all the help he needs.
Tom goes to the harbor to meet his cousin Mary, and sees Becky Thacher for the first time. Her family moves into St. Petersburg, and Tom falls in love.
Tom arrives at school late and finds that Becky is in his class. He finally manages to become friends with her, and promises to visit - forgetting another promise he has made to Huck.
Huck is offended that Tom forgot his promise. The next few days Tom works with Huck, telling Becky he is busy helping his sick aunt. Becky discovers his lie but her anger is replaced with surprise when she sees Huck's newly built tree house.
Tom just can't get along with his new classmate Alfred, and challenges him to a fighting match. On the way home, the boat they are aboard sinks and Tom rescues Alfred, who can't swim at all - winning Becky's praise.
A large steamship comes to St Petersburg. Tom and Huck steal aboard for a trip. Next day, Tom boasts about their adventure, fascinating his classmates.
Tom gives Becky an engagement kiss. But with a slip of the tongue, he tells her that he had once been engaged to Amy. Becky is furious, and Tom becomes so discouraged he ends his treasure hunt.
After Becky ignores Tom for five days, he decides to run away from home to be a pirate. During the night he sails to Jackson Island on a raft, along with Huck and Ben.
Ben and Huck miss the village, so Tom proposes that they return on the very day of their funeral. No other village children, Tom decides, have ever become the center of so much attention.
After the funeral Tom is a hero at school, and everyone wants to hear his story. Charlie inks Tom's schoolbook out of jealousy, and Tom is punished. Becky saw what happened and feels guilty that she did not tell the truth.
Frog leaping matches are popular with the school students, and Tom trains his frog to be a great leaper. Charlie doesn't want to hand over his championship, so he stuffs Tom's frog with pebbles.
Sid comes down with the mumps just as summer vacation starts. Tom doesn't want to get sick and spoil his holiday. Just then two men come to town with Water of Life, guaranteed to cure every disease.
The village children are bored; nothing exciting ever happens there. Then a theatrical troupe arrives and announces a play for the children. Among them is a young actress Lisette, and Huck falls in love.
Tom discovers a dead body up the river - it appears to be Huck's father! After the funeral, Huck's father appears alive; come to take his son. Huck doesn't want to go, and hides.
Arthur meets Mary at Dr. Mitchell's office, and she invites him to dinner. Tom is fascinated by his stories of balloon flight and is determined to have a ride.
Muff is arrested for the murder, just as Indian Joe planned. Tom and Huck sympathize with Muff and send in food and cigarettes, but keep their silence. Tom is plagued by nightmares.
The sheriff calls in a detective from St. Louis to find Indian Joe, but to everyone's disappointment he is unsuccessful. He is sure, however, that Joe will seek revenge. The detective follows Tom, hoping eventually to arrest Joe.
All the children go on a picnic except Sid, who has a cold, and Huck, Tom and Becky get lost while exploring a cave. Trying to find the way out, Tom sees Indian Joe coming in. Huck discovers Joe's friend, killed.
