Original subtitles

May I give you a lift, sir?

Thank you. No.

I have an appointment...

a lady and gentleman.

Oh, I'm sorry. I...

I thought you signaled me.

No...

Not yet.

Care for a lift?

Thank you.

Quite welcome, sir.

I'm afraid we're not going very far.

I know.

What's that?

You will take me as far as you are going.

That will be far enough.

It was a doctor's car.

See the green cross?

2 people... man and his wife, I guess.

Both killed, huh?

Anybody see it?

Yeah, 2 people were killed...

a man and a woman.

Oh!

Oh, dear!

Yes...

Yes, I'll call right over.

Miss Riffle, sit down here for me.

Here. Now, this is shocking news.

I'm sincerely sorry.

Can I get something for you...

a glass of water?

Sue's my only sister.

I don't know what I'll do without her.

Only yesterday she promised me a trip to California.

I've been planning...

Yes, yes. Just a moment.

Charlie, miss Riffle has had so sad news.

Would you get my car and drive her

over to Dr. Northrup's home?

Yes, yes. Surely.

They tickle.

Hey, don't strangle them that way, son.

They got work to do. Put them in the can.

Think we'll catch a lot of fish today, Gramps?

Think we'll catch a whole lot of fish?

Like as not, son.

Think we'll catch a whale, Gramps?

You can't never tell.

You wouldn't be afraid of a whale, would you, Gramps?

Darned right, I wouldn't.

Not even a great big giant whale?

Well, I never run away from one yet.

Don't never touch this stuff, son.

Give me some?

No, no. Come on. Let's get going.

Julian!

Just a little taste.

No. You wouldn't like it.

What do you drink it for, Gramps?

Oh, on account of my chest.

Julian!

Oh, because your granny's yelling for us

to come and take out that smelly dog.

But I like the way Betty smells.

Well, you're welcome to her, son.

When you two get together,

you're as deaf as a post.

Was you calling us, miss Nellie?

I didn't hear you.

Oh, look at you now, tracking mud all over the place.

Pud, take that filthy thing off the table.

They're only worms, grandma.

Oh! Put it out on the porch.

My goodness, take it away.

# Aunt Demetria's a pismire #

# Aunt Demetria's a pismire #

Say, pud, you mustn't use that word

about your aunt Demetria.

You said she was a pismire.

That boy's getting to be the limit.

First thing you know, you'll be teaching him how to smoke, I suppose,

and then drink and goodness knows what all.

Well, there will be plenty of time

for the what all, old lady.

Oh, Julian.

Oh, miss Nellie.

Here. Put those in your pocket.

He mimics everything you do.

Julian?

Huh?

Ahem.

What is a pismire?

A pismire is the meanest ant there is,

and aunt Demetria is a pismire.

She's a good, right-minded woman,

and I won't hear a word against her.

Then don't follow me,

'cause I say she's a pismire.

She's no such thing.

She's a narrow-minded, troublemaking,

blue-nosed old pismire, and you know it.

She's a decent, self-respecting woman.

Oh, dear. I've got that gas started again.

Every time I get excited, it starts.

Well, then, don't get excited, then.

I'll take the worms.

Shall I, Gramps?

Can I take the worms?

That's right, son.

There's some cookies.

Thank you, miss Nellie.

Bye, old lady.

Bye, grandma.

Bye, son.

We're going to catch a whale.

Darn right, we are.

Pud!

I do believe that's aunt Demetria.

Aw, talk of the...

Wonder what that old sow bug wants.

Hello, demmy.

I think we better go inside.

I must speak to you alone.

Well... well, what is it, demmy?

Here, pud. You hold that.

I'll be right out in a minute.

Demmy, it isn't...

Now, old girl, can't be nothing serious.

Go on. Go on in.

Go ahead.

Don't be long, Gramps,

will you, Gramps?

No, no, no, son. No, no, no.

Ding dong!

Whoo! Whoo! Whoo! Whoo!

Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!

Hello, Mr. Wentworth.

Hello, pud.

If you want to see my dad, he's not here.

He went to gainesville to make a call.

I went to gainesville once,

but mom went with dad today.

Yes, pud.

I'm going to be a doctor when I grow up.

You bet you are.

You're going to be as good a doctor as your daddy.

Maybe better.

Here comes Casey Jones and his express!

Get out of the way!

Whoo! Whoo! Whoo! Whoo!

Oh, really, Mr. Northrup.

This is too generous.

I... well, I don't know what to say.

That's perfectly all right, sir.

It's a real pleasure.

It's just what my son would have wished.

That was a grand sermon you gave

for Jim and his wife.

Did me good to hear all the fine things you said about him,

and I thank you kindly.

And how, uh, how is Mrs. Northrup?

Oh. If you could manage to stop by now and again,

it would be a real comfort to her.

I'll be glad to.

I've noticed that the Northrup pew

is rather empty these days.

Grandpa and me always run and hide

when grandma calls us to go to church,

don't we, Gramp?

Why, now, young man,

wouldn't you like your grandpa to bring you along some Sunday?

Sure. I want to hear you talk.

Oh, you do?

Gramps says you talk like an old woman.

Heh heh heh.

Well, now, young man, you don't lend me much socially.

I think it's high time for us to crawl into a hole.

Good afternoon, sir.

Bye, Mr. Murdock.

That's a good deed done,

if I do say so myself.

Did you do a good deed, Gramps?

Yep. I give a mite more than what is expected.

If you do a good deed, you can make a wish,

and it'll come true.

Is that so?

That's what my storybook says.

Well, must be so, then.

So make a wish, Gramp. Make a wish.

Well, I will, son, soon as I think up a good one.

Would a giant hit his head

on that telephone wire, Gramp?

Well, he'd have to duck some.

Can god see through the sky, Gramp?

Mm-hmm.

Can he see right through our house?

Right you are, son.

Gramp, where do people go when they die?

Where the woodbine twineth.

Grandfather, are you going to die?

Not yet awhile, son.

Are you sure?

Don't you fret, pud.

I'll be with you quite a while yet.

I feel as spry as a cricket.

I love you, grandpa.

I think I love you best of anybody in the world.

Heh heh.

God bless you, son.

That means a lot to me, pud.

Thank you.

Look who's coming.

Let's sneak into schroeder's and get an ice-cream soda.

Humph! Those two.

Thought I didn't see them sneaking into schroeder's.

Pud... of all the nasty, ill-bred little rats in chatfield.

That's Julian's work for you.

Hello, miss Riffle.

You look as though you were listening

to the singing of the angels.

I was thinking, Mr. Wentworth.

I've got little pud on my mind.

Say, hear his dad left him a pot of money.

What?

Jim must have collected

some fancy fees for his operations.

He left a lot of insurance, too.

Heavenly day!

Good thing for the boy.

I was worried about that child.

I always thought Jim spent every nickel he made,

he was so generous.

Going my way? I got my little bus at the corner.

No, I think I'll run over

and visit grandma Northrup... poor soul.

Well, so long.

See you Friday.

Demmy, I'm tired...

So tired.

Oh, Nellie.

If it wasn't for Julian and pud,

I declare, I'd give up.

Demmy, sometimes I think you're the person

to see to it that pud gets the right bringing up

when I've passed on.

Me?

And then again, I think Julian wouldn't know how to live

without that boy.

Well, Nellie, I've thought about it,

but I couldn't afford to give pud

the things he's been used to.

I mean, unless Jim left a will or something like that.

Oh, he did, demmy. He left a will.

Well, think of that. And how mu...

I mean, is the lamby well taken care of?

Yes. Jim left $55,000.

55...

Well, the dear little lamby.

Maybe you're right, Nellie.

Of course, there's no great rush.

Guess I got a few years left in me yet.

Well, I should hope so.

55 thou...

Bless his little heart.

Julian never catches him.

Always starts bellowing so as to give him time to get away.

Nasty brats. Stealing other people's property.

Stop stealing our apples!

Get the tarnation out of that tree, you old bully!

You thieving rascal!

I'll give you such a tanning...

he's getting away, Gramps!

Get away, you thieving varmint!

Aw, Gramps! He got away!

He didn't wait!

Come back here!

Stealing my golden russets.

By gosh, I swear,

I wish that anybody that climbed that tree

would have to stay up there

until I let him down.

Gramps! You made a wish! You made a wish!

Huh?

A wish. You wished that anybody would have to stay up in the tree

until you let them down.

A lot of good it will do me.

Gee, Gramps, I bet we catch one of those bad boys up there

and maybe keep them there till 19 years.

Maybe for a hundred years.

Well, it'd serve them good and right. Here.

Thanks, Gramps.

Maybe a thousand years, Gramps.

Maybe we would never let him down, would we, Gramps?

No, sir.

Oh. Hello, demmy.

Poor little lamby.

Poor little orphan lamb.

What's the matter?

Is he still thinking of his poor mama and papa?

Oh, let him alone, for heaven's sake.

Well!

Let me go!

There, there, lamby.

Your aunt Demetria understands.

You must be a brave boy-boy.

Mama's gone to a better place above the clouds.

Oh, let him alone!

Let me go!

Do you deny the poor child loving comfort

with his parents hardly cold in their graves?

Oh, you're the devil with your loving comfort.

Come here, pud.

I hate you!

Now you know.

Do you hear me, pud? Come here to me!

Like heck he will.

Like heck I will!

See? See? You wicked old man.

You wretched sepulcher!

What did you...

now, by Jupiter, that does it!

You get out of here.

Get out of this house!

And if I ever find you here again,

you squid-faced old bird stuffer,

I'll wring your blasted neck and dance on it!

Julian!

You mischief-making old harridan!

You pismire!

Oh!

Oh, that makes me so mad.

That makes me so gol darn mad!

Oh, pud, how about getting me a nice cold glass of water?

Sure, Gramps.

Huh?

What is that?

Mr. Julian Northrup, I believe.

What's that? I didn't catch it.

Most people don't hear me the first time.

How the blazes could I hear you if I was asleep?

You sure you were asleep?

Well, I must have drowsed off.

Felt kind of tired all of a sudden.

Say, who are you? What do you want?

I want you to come with me.

Why? Where are you going?

Where the woodbine twineth.

Where the woodbi...

why, I said that. I made it up.

But it's what you say to a child.

I ain't no child!

Aren't you?

No, I ain't!

Say, who the devil are you?

They call me Mr. Brink.

Well, now, look here, Mr. Brink,

I don't like you.

I wouldn't go with you to a rat fight.

So now you know.

Sorry.

I don't like the way you snuck up here.

I don't like the way you talk.

There, you see...

It's time for you to come with me.

No, it ain't.

No! It ain't I ain't going nowhere!

I'm going to stay right here.

I'm waiting for pud.

Get the blazes away from here!

Get off of my son's property!

Get off of here before I...

Julian!

Huh?

Who you shouting at that way?

Well, I...

There was a fella here.

I...

Well, I'll be dipped in gravy.

Gramps, who was that man?

You seen him?

Did you, son? Huh?

Sure. He was coming down the walk.

Who was he?

Don't rightly know who he was.

What did he want?

He wanted me to go along with him.

Where?

Where the woodbine twineth.

Here, son.

It's getting kind of chilly out here.

I think we'd better get away from this place.

# Casey Jones #

# Mounted to the cabin #

# Casey Jones, with his orders in his hand #

# Casey Jones #

# Mounted to the cabin #

# Took his farewell trip to the promised land #

# Casey Jones #

# Goin' to reach frisco #

# We're goin' to reach frisco, but we'll all be dead #

Hee hee hee!

Gee, Gramps! We sure caught a heap of fish, didn't we?

Come here, you big Fisher-isher you.

Smell, Gramps.

Mmm! Just like violets!

We going to eat him for dinner, Gramps?

Are we, Gramps?

Well, I don't know, son.

Mostly have chicken and dumplings on Sunday.

Hey! Put him back in the pail!

You're wearing him all out!

Heh heh heh!

There's a street cop, Gramps.

Oh, you don't say?

Better slow down.

Reckon I had.

Must be doing all of 15.

Give him a raspberry, Gramps.

Little old buttercup here

is proud and takes her time,

but she always delivers where we're going.

Good old buttercup.

Year in and year out, runs like a song.

Loyalty. That's what I call it.

Loyalty.

She sure picked a sweet place to stop.

Sure did, Gramp.

Miss Nellie, that was the finest blueberry pie

I ever had.

I'm about finished this fob for pud.

Looks pretty good, too, if I do say so myself.

Still mad at me, Nellie?

Well, I like to see you best that way...

eyes all shining.

That's when you look prettiest.

Oh, fiddlesticks.

Julian Northrup, don't you try to soft-soap me.

I was downright ashamed of you this morning,

you and that boy.

I don't know which is the dirtiest.

Julian, you're a bad influence on pud,

and it's got to be stopped.

Nellie.

Oh, take that silly thing out of your eye.

I'm serious.

I've been closing my eyes

to the way you've been ruining pud.

Oh, miss Nellie!

Julian, you and I can't raise a little boy all by ourselves.

We're too old.

Oh, sure we can.

Same way we raised Jim.

Aw, now. There, there, there, miss Nellie.

Now...

I guess you and me can raise one little boy.

Why, he ain't got one of my bad traits.

He's the spitting image of you and Jim.

Got the same color blue eyes as you, too.

He's going to be a fine-looking little card

like his granny.

Say, you look mighty smart in that new dress.

Aw, go along with you.

Aw, now, old lady, don't you go worrying about pud.

I'll keep on teaching him to cuss,

and you keep on teaching him not to cuss.

You'll see. He'll turn out to be pretty good.

We've got to find some other way to raise that boy.

There ain't nobody else going to raise that boy but us.

Julian, I've heard the voice of heaven.

You've heard the voice of Demetria.

No, it wasn't. It was from above.

It was Demetria.

Julian Northrup, I guess I know the difference

between the voice of heaven

and the voice of Demetria Riffle.

Yoo-hoo! Nellie! Anybody home?

Talk of the devil.

Julian.

Come in, demmy.

Now, you mind your manners.

I had to stop by and see how you were, Nellie,

even if I'm not welcome.

I bought you some of those pills from lawbecks.

He says they're wonderful for settling gas.

Careful what you're taking there.

# Aunt Demetria's a pismire #

# Aunt Demetria's a pismire #

# Aunt Demetria... #

Julian?

I never taught him that.

You're a liar.

Maybe I am.

Now, pud, you go tell your aunt demmy you're sorry.

That's all right, Nellie.

I know when words are put into a child's mouth.

And has my little boy-boy a great big kiss

for his aunt demmy today?

No.

Now, pud, you give aunt demmy a nice kiss.

She kisses awful wet.

Hee hee!

Well, I like that!

Good afternoon, miss Riffle.

Here's your medicine, Mrs. Northrup.

Aw, thank you, Marcia.

Feel a little rumbly.

You don't mean to tell me

you've got that Marcia Giles in this house.

Why, yes. She came to help us after...

Well, what? She's a good straightforward girl, isn't she?

Well?

Guess it ain't any of my business.

What are you driving at anyway?

She's carrying on with that young bill Lowry,

that's what.

Good.

Kissing in the park!

Kissing like you never saw!

Fairly made your blood boil!

Good!

If they carry on like that in public,

what must they do when they're alone?

Why, demmy, maybe they just kiss.

Are you willing to have that kind of girl in your house

around where pud is?

I'd let her go...

what do you mean, that kind of girl?

She's nothing but a common...

you're a blasted liar!

Don't talk to demmy like that, Julian. We don't know...

I know. I knew she was a nice girl

the minute I seen her.

Ye gods, that makes me mad.

That makes me so cussing mad!

Me, too, Gramps.

Stop your swearing, Julian Northrup.

If you listen to one word more

this viper has to say,

you're just a plain fool!

Julian, don't you call me a fool!

Don't you call me a fool.

I'm disappointed in you, miss Nellie.

I'm disappointed in you!

Oh! Oh!

There, now, you tired yourself all out.

You better rest a spell. Let me help you to your room.

Yes. I guess I will...

naw! Get out of the way!

I'll help you, miss Nellie.

No, you won't, Julian.

I only want them to help me

that know how to help me.

Blue-nosed old bird stuffer.

Even makes me fight with miss Nellie.

Old pismire.

Can't call me a fool.

Can't say he's disappointed in me.

I don't know how you stand for it, Nellie.

How's your gas?

Feels a little quieter.

Are you going to speak to Marcia?

I don't know. If you just saw them kissing...

Why, Nellie Northrup, don't tell me...

all right, demmy, but I sure hate to let her go.

She needs the money so bad.

There's things more important than money, Nellie.

I know.

Oh.

Nellie, weakly: Feel kind of funny.

Julian don't mean all the things he says.

He's just a rough-spoken man.

Hmm.

Good looking man, too, in his day.

I remember him at a party

when the old century went out.

Handsome as anything.

Everybody was after him.

He was always a pretty good...

demmy, would you go and ask Julian to step in here for a minute?

Now, Nellie, you're not going to forgive him?

Well...

I just want to talk to him.

Nellie...

Don't you think I should go down to Mr. Pilbeam's office in the morning

and have the papers drawn up for you to sign about the adoption and all?

Adoption?

You said I was the one to bring pud up.

Oh, I was just wondering about it, demmy.

You said it, Nellie.

Now, see here, demmy,

I never said a word about you adopting pud.

You're trying to put words in my mouth.

I don't like the way you're acting, demmy.

Nellie Northrup, you said yourself I should bring pud up!

Well, if I did, I was wrong.

I can see that now.

Oh, dear.

I better talk with Julian.

There, now. Don't think about it, Nellie.

You'll have a nice nap, and I'll come and see you tomorrow.

Don't forget to tell Julian to come in here a minute.

I won't.

There's a boy going up that apple tree.

I can just catch him nicely.

Nasty little thief.

You little rat. You come down from that tree.

Come on, son!

Want your stick, Gramps?

You're a thief!

Here it is!

Hurry! Hurry!

Come down, or I'll have the law on you.

I'll teach you to trespass.

You'll do what?

There's a boy up there.

I should think you'd thank me for catching a trespasser.

How was you aiming to teach him not to trespass?

I'd give him a sound whipping. That's what I'd do.

Oh, you would?

Well, thanks for telling me.

Seeing as how

there's 2 trespassers here,

I'll start on the one handiest.

Don't be silly, Julian.

Hit her, Gramps! Hit her a whopper!

You little brat, you...

brat?!

Get off of this property.

Get off our property!

Maybe you'll find out whose property this is someday.

You'll find out that I can look after my own!

Sometimes the law has something to say.

Go on! Get out of here!

Go on, miss pickle face!

Why don't you come down?

My britches is caught.

Go on, son.

Unloosen your britches

and come down as fast as you can.

Yes, sir.

My britches is loose now.

Aw, Gramps, you shouldn't have told him to get down.

We could have kept him up there a million years.

Come here, Sonny. Come here.

Now, the next time you want some apples,

don't sneak in the back.

Come right up to the front stoop and ask for them.

Here.

Will you do that?

Yes, sir.

Like heck, he will.

I used to like to steal apples.

They tasted better that way.

Now you know, Gramps, I can't get down until you let me.

That's right.

Hope you don't keep me up here too long, Gramps.

Well, maybe weeks, maybe a hundred years.

All depends on how I feel.

Then I'm coming down, Gramps.

Well, I guess I'll go along right now.

I'm coming along.

Gramps, I can't get loose.

Of course. You can't get loose till I tell you

honest I can't, Gramps.

Well, you can't go breaking my spells thataway.

Let me down, Gramps! Let me down, please!

My arm's tired!

Gramps, let me go! Gramps!

All right, Sonny. Drop down. Let go.

Why, boy, what's the matter with you?

What is it?

I couldn't let go.

Oh, of course, you could.

I couldn't, Gramps.

I thought you was only fooling.

I was fooling at first, then my hands couldn't move.

The tree was holding me.

By golly, boy. You give a fella the creeps.

Doggone if I don't believe you thought that tree

really was holding you.

It was, Gramp. It was!

Aw, shucks. That old apple tree couldn't hold nobody.

Yes, it could, Gramps.

You wished it could.

Gramps, I hurt my hand.

Want a heap of tape.

Well, come on, Sonny boy.

We'll get some tape.

Come on.

Adhesive tape will fix up most anything.

Say, Marcia.

Slip into the bathroom for a piece of sticking plaster

like a good girl, will you?

This young man's wounded.

Aw!

And some 'curochrome, too.

What you doing?

I'm fixing a cup of tea for Mrs. Northrup.

Good. We'll bring it in to her.

We're in Dutch again, Marcy.

Got to make our peace.

All right, Mr. Northrup.

The water will be ready in minute.

Hey, Marcy, what in blazes do you mean

by kissing men in the park?

What?

Don't you know it's a sin to kiss men in the park?

Next time, bring him up here and kiss him.

Oh, Mr. Northrup.

It's bill Lowry. We've been engaged all summer.

That's fine.

It's time this house had some kissing in it.

How the heck's young pud here

going to learn anything about kissing

if he don't never see none of it?

Is that you, Marcia?

Yes, Mrs. Northrup.

Is anything wrong?

No, there's nothing wrong.

I'm just kind of tired.

Going to go to sleep in a minute.

Let's see. There was something

I was supposed to talk to you about.

What was it?

Oh, well. I've forgotten.

Couldn't have been very important.

Marcy.

Yes, Mrs. Northrup?

Marcy, dear...

Just see that Julian always has his pipe.

Will you do that?

Yes, Mrs. Northrup.

You're a good girl, Marcy.

Now, go on back to whatever you were doing.

Shall I turn off the radio, Mrs. Northrup?

No, dear.

They're playing Stephen foster's tunes.

I'm hoping they'll play beautiful dreamer.

That's my favorite.

Is that you, Julian?

No, I'm not Julian.

Who is it?

It's Mr. Brink.

You seem rather tired.

I am kind of tired, Mr. Brink.

Yes, I know.

Well, you're to come with me now.

Come with you... Brink?

I don't know any...

see here.

What call have you to come butting into a lady's bedroom?

I usually come to bedrooms.

It's so much more comfortable.

What is?

Come with me.

Why should anyone want to go with you?

It's customary.

Oh.

Well, you might as well sit down and wait.

You needn't think I'll stir a step until I finish this mitten.

I'm narrowing off at the top now.

Yes, I know you are.

Oh, what do you know about knitting?

I don't mean the mitten. I mean you.

What a fool thing to say.

You ready?

Oh, wait...

Just a minute.

I'm almost finished now.

There.

That's got it.

Don't the red stripe look well with the gray?

Excellent, my dear. Excellent.

Come now.

Knock again, Gramps.

Shh!

Miss Nellie, we brought you a cup of tea.

Still mad at me, Nellie?

Hmm?

This frog's getting kind of old.

Yeah. It does smell kind of rich.

He's a very fine specimen, though.

Yes. Well, we'll get another one, Sonny.

Gramps.

Huh?

I'll throw this smelly frog where he won't bother us.

Yes. That's fine, son.

That's fine.

No, no, Betty. That ain't her.

Mr. Northrup, lunch is nearly ready.

Oh, thank you kindly, Marcy.

I don't feel very hungry.

Oh, Mr. Northrup, you haven't eaten a good meal for a week,

and when you don't eat,

pud hardly eats a mouthful, either.

That's just what she said.

"He mimics everything you do."

He does.

Oh, Marcy, if I had only got there in time.

Don't take it so hard, Mr. Northrup.

She died and didn't forgive me.

Oh, but she did, Mr. Northrup.

Why, she would have forgiven you anything.

Oh, I almost forgot.

Frog won't smell anymore, Gramp.

That's good, pud.

Lunch is about ready.

I'm not hungry.

Well, hungry or not,

you got to eat to keep up your strength.

It's only me and you left, pud.

Only you and me.

We got to hang together.

You're darn tootin'.

Now, don't cuss, pud.

Your granny didn't like it.

Let's you and me turn over a new leaf, pud.

What for?

Well, so your aunt demmy won't keep on saying

I ain't good for you.

Aw, we'll kill her!

We'll kill her, and we'll put her in the ground,

and we'll throw dirt on top of her.

Hush, pud. Hush.

Here's your pipe, Mr. Northrup.

I filled it for you.

My pipe, Marcy?

Oh, no. I don't think I can smoke.

In fact, I ain't smokin' no more.

Miss Nellie didn't like it.

Oh, but she did, Mr. Northrup.

I know she did.

No. She thought it was a dirty habit.

She told me I was always to keep your pipe filled.

Miss Nellie told... when?

Just before she died.

She caught hold of my hand, and she said...

now, wait. I'll remember her exact words.

She said, "Marcy, see that Julian always has his pipe."

Now, look here, Marcy,

you ain't tellin' me that just to make me feel good?

Oh, no, Mr. Northrup.

I couldn't do that.

Give me that pipe, Marcy.

It's just like miss Nellie

was handing it to me herself.

Does it taste good, Gramp?

Better than anything I ever knew.

What have we got for lunch, Marcy?

I could eat an ox.

I could eat 2 ox.

Right away, Mr. Northrup.

Oh, yes.

That rif... miss Riffle phoned again.

She keeps asking about your health.

She does, does she?

That gol darned old buzzard.

She's just waiting for me to die.

Confound it, Marcy.

I've been asleep at the switch.

We're going to eat a whacking big lunch,

and then I'm going downtown.

I got some business to attend to.

Hurry up and get through lunch as fast as you can.

All right, Mr. Northrup.

I got to put a clean rig on this young fella.

Gee, Gramps, we feel better, don't we?

We sure do, son. We sure do!

Hello, Ben.

Hello, Mr. Pilbeam.

Hello, pud. Have a seat.

This is bill Lowry, my assistant.

Mr. Northrup, master Northrup.

Oh, you're Marcy Giles' young man.

How do you do?

You're bill the kisser.

Hey, young man.

I got a brand new hammock on my porch

that's going plumb to waste.

Thank you. Thank you.

Ha ha.

Say, Ben.

I been figuring on

making some provision for his nibs here

after I'm gone.

You know, a guardian for him and his money

so that sanctimonious old she-cat

can't get her hands on it.

I aim to leave my bit to Marcy Giles,

so she can't grab that, you see.

Well, as to a guardian,

Julian, what you should worry about is not the future,

but the present.

The present?

Why, I ain't dead yet.

To be plain, miss Riffle threatens to remove the boy from your charge.

Demetria?!

To adopt him legally... Now.

What?

What's that?

On grounds that you're not a suitable guardian for a child...

your religious qualifications or the lack of them.

Oh, well, maybe we can do something about that.

Best to face facts.

She's got some pretty strong arguments to present to a court.

Perhaps you could make some concession.

Well, don't you bother about it, Pilbeam.

I didn't make no concession at bull run

when I was too young,

and I didn't make none at San Juan hill.

They said I was too old then.

So I'll be hanged if I'm going to make any now

to any frostbitten, backstabbing...

Pismire.

Pismire like Demetria Riffle.

Thank you, boy.

I ain't through fighting yet, Ben.

I'll show this town there ain't nobody can take

what belongs to me away from me.

Give me my hat, boy.

Come on.

Let's get.

I feel awful funny, Gramp.

You got nothing on me, boy.

This hurts me more than it does you, pud.

Marcy!

Well, come on, girl.

Tell us the worst.

Oh, I'm so sorry, gentlemen,

but the northrups aren't at home just now.

Is that so?

They've gone to church, where all the best people go.

Indeed?

Well, when they come back,

will you please tell them we was here

and left our visiting cards?

Good day, madam.

Good day, gentlemen.

Oh, gosh, it's hot.

It sure is... hot as...

uh-uh. Hades, son. Hades.

Golly, this collar's choking me to death.

,,

Well, we betterlar's get started. O death.

Wish it was downhill all the way.

What's the matter, Gramp?

What is it, Gramp?

What's the matter?

Nothing, son.

Just run inside.

In the pocket of my overcoat, you'll find a bottle.

The camel, Gramp?

My tonic.

Mr. Northrup.

Huh?

It's you again.

Can't I shut my eyes without you butting in?

What do you want here anyway?

I thought, perhaps, now you would like to come.

Now, look here, Mr. Brink.

I ain't going with you at all.

I'm going to church with this young fella here,

and you're about as welcome as a fly on a currant bun.

So now you know.

Your similitudes are a trifle earthy,

but your meaning is clear.

Similitudes?

What kind of talk is that?

Sure. What kind of talk is it?

You can't talk worth snakes.

Go on! Get away from here!

Get off of my property!

Let's not be difficult about it.

Your wife was so charming to me.

Miss Nellie?

Is she well?

I can only tell you that she has changed.

Miss Nellie changed?

Ha ha! That's what you think.

My dear man, let's not argue the point.

This time you can't fight me away.

Come now.

I can't.

It's time.

No, no, now. You go on. Get.

I got to stay and look after my boy.

I've got to go to church.

So easy and so pleasant.

Look at me.

No, no. I can't.

I won't!

Now...

No, no. Not yet, Mr. Brink.

Not yet. Please!

Gramp!

Shh, boy.

Mr. Brink,

before I go, could I have one of my golden russets?

I hate to leave them when they're spoiling to be ate.

Oh, very well, but be quick.

I have many appointments.

I wonder if you'd kindly get one for me.

They're out of my reach.

Curious request.

Why not?

This one?

They're riper over there.

This one?

Neither! I don't want none of them.

I got you up that tree, and I'm going to keep you there

till I say you can come down.

You got him, Gramp! You got him!

By golly, son, I believe I have!

Mr. Northrup says they're celebrating something.

It's a secret, and they won't tell me.

Secret, aye?

Sounds like a big occasion.

You should have seen the supper that they got away with.

Everything Mr. Northrup isn't supposed to eat:

Steak and mushrooms and cucumber salad,

creamed onions and pickled beets,

and now this.

# Where the Lincoln gunboats ran #

Ice cream!

Oh, boy!

What are Lincoln gunboats, Gramp?

They was the boats that fought for Mr. Lincoln.

He was the head man on our side, during the war.

Yes, sir. He was the greatest man

this country ever had.

Talk about it, Gramps.

Oh, you know all about that.

Well, what's that?

By golly! Betty's after Mr. Brink.

Come on, son!

Come here, Betty!

Betty!

Betty, come here.

Here, Betty. Here, Betty.

Betty, come here!

Oh, this is the crowning indignity.

I'm sorry, Mr. Brink.

I think that hereafter I shall be invisible.

Look, Gramp! Look!

He's gone, Gramp!

Mr. Brink!

It's really less complicated this way.

Oh. So long as you're still there.

Betty! Betty! Come here!

Betty, Betty!

Come...

Betty...

wait a minute. Wait a minute.

There's something wrong here.

Yes. She's gone.

Betty!

Get away! Don't touch anything.

Don't touch a thing!

Got to do something about this

the first thing in the morning.

Yes, sir. That tree's deadly.

Hey, keep away from that tree!

Doggone, I told you that!

Sorry.

Sorry don't do no good.

Say, you fellows can knock off for lunch now.

Be back on the dot.

On the dot.

Got to have that fence finished by nightfall, rain or shine.

It'll be done. Ok. Mr. Northrup.

Come on, pud.

Let's get inside and see what Marcia's got for lunch.

Come in. Come in, Dr. Evans.

They've gone to lunch. Just as well.

Miss Riffle, what is this mystery?

I'm a busy man, miss Riffle.

I appreciate that, Dr. Evans, but this is urgent.

An hour ago, I happened to be passing,

and I saw all these pieces of fence being unloaded.

Naturally, I came back to find out what was going on.

I did find out, and I telephoned you immediately.

You are Julian's lawyer, Mr. Pilbeam,

and I want you and Dr. Evans

to meet a friend of his, a Mr. Brink.

All right, where is he?

Just at the moment, he's up the apple tree.

Where?

Right up in that apple tree.

I don't see anyone up there.

Oh, you can't see him. He's invisible.

What?

He's invisible.

You see, Betty, the old dog, barked at him.

Mr. Brink didn't like that,

so he became invisible,

and right after that,

Betty touched the tree and dropped over dead.

Is this supposed to be a joke, miss Riffle?

What would you say if I told you

I believed it was the gospel truth?

Frankly, I'd say you were crazy.

And if I told you I believed

that anyone who touched that tree would die?

I'd say you were positively nuts, miss Riffle.

Well, I don't believe it, but Julian does.

Ho ho ho!

I'll be frank with you, Mr. Pilbeam.

I intend to take that child away

from this insane man's house

before something terrible happens. Tonight if possible.

Let's see what's going on out here.

By jiminy, what in tarnation are you doing back here?

Well, Julian...

Finn and Evans, too.

By golly, you've told them, haven't you?

No, Julian, I haven't.

Yes, she told us about Mr., uh, Brink?

I might have known it.

Well, now, Northrup, what's the answer?

It's the truth, Evans,

just as sure as I'm here.

You mean there's somebody sitting up in that tree?

Yep. Mr. Brink.

Well, I might as well tell you all about it right now.

Nobody can't die no more until I say so...

Unless they touch that tree or them apples

or Mr. Brink himself.

You're not serious about this, Northrup?

Of course he is, doctor.

What are you driving at, anyway?

I'm just interested, Julian.

Look here, Northrup...

Can you talk to this Mr. Brink?

Oh, sure, I can.

Can you talk to him now, Julian?

Why? Oh, you mean so you can hear him?

Well, I thought perhaps if you tried to talk to him now,

you'd find out he isn't up there anymore.

Do try and make him talk.

I'd love to hear him.

Oh, you would?

Yes.

Well, by golly, I'll let you all hear him.

Hey, can you hear me, Mr. Brink?

Sir?

Huh. See? Calls me sir.

He thinks someone's answering.

Come here, you.

Julian!

Just a minute, now. Just a minute.

I'm going to settle this question

about you getting pud and his money once and for all.

Can you see this old battle-ax, Mr. Brink?

Her name is Demetria Riffle.

You got anything on your schedule

about when you're supposed to snuff her out?

Riffle? Riffle, Riffle, Riffle...

No such name's come to my attention as yet.

Oh. That's...

Well, I'm going to keep you up there

until it's time to exterminate her.

Well, since you and your tree are so tenacious,

I shall have to sit here and wait for miss Riffle's call.

Oh, think you can hold out that long?

My dear man, a human life is like the twinkling of an eye to me.

Well, thank you, Mr. Brink.

Well?

There you are.

I'm sorry for you, Julian. Really, I am.

Why?

I didn't hear this thing in the tree say anything.

You didn't? Well...

You did, didn't you, Finn?

I'm sorry, Julian. I didn't.

You?

No, Northrup, I didn't.

Say, what in the dickens is the matter with me anyway?

Am I going nuts?

Oh, it's probably some sort of a dream or something, Northrup.

You'll get over it in a few weeks and be all right again.

Well, did...

didn't none of you hear him say nothing?

He said a human life

was like the twinkling of an eye to him.

Ye gods, that's just what he said!

Ha ha!

See what he's doing to the boy?

Well, you see where that leaves you standing?

Northrup, I want to show you something.

What... are you going to do?

I'm going to eat an apple for you.

Hey, wait a minute! Come here!

Why, you gol darn fool!

After all I've told you!

If you make one more move toward that tree,

I'll brain you!

Aah! He's dangerous!

All right, all right, Northrup. Let me up...

And I won't go near the tree.

Trying to commit suicide.

All right, Northrup.

I just wanted to make sure you weren't joking.

Are you going to be home this evening, Northrup?

Huh! Where else would I be?

Of course I'll be home.

I may come in, and we'll talk this thing over.

Well, sure, come in.

Thanks.

I must go.

Yes, I...

I'm sorry I had to be so rough with you.

Oh, that's all right, Northrup.

Say, doc, you needn't worry

about any of your patients dying yet awhile.

No! Ha ha ha!

Gramp, why can't they hear Mr. Brink?

Oh, I don't know, Sonny.

Guess they're too busy, that's all.

Oh, my dear man, that isn't the reason at all.

Look, Gramp, look.

Hello, Mr. Brink.

Well, how is it that only pud and me can hear you, then?

I have neither the inclination nor the authority

to dispense information relevant to your inquiry.

Whew!

He still talks funny.

Yeah.

Did you notice the storm last night?

Yes.

Did you get wet?

No.

Do you mind the rain?

Oh, I love the rain. I like sad things.

Do you enjoy eternity, Mr. Brink?

Oh, one gets used to it.

I suppose if I'm to Usher you into eternity,

I should make it sound attractive.

Oh, no, no, no.

All I need's someplace near

miss Nellie and Susan and Jim,

someplace I can fix up a mite

while I'm waiting for pud here to come along.

That is, if it needs any improvement.

Well, how about improvements?

The improvements are in the individual.

Oh, I don't think I'd like that.

I can't stand these holier-than-thou folks.

If a man's a good republican or a Mason or an elk,

that's good enough for me.

Live and let live... that's my motto.

You can hardly expect me to second that.

Lunch is ready, Mr. Northrup.

All right, Marcy.

I'll be right with you.

Hey!

Say good-bye to Mr. Brink.

Bye, Brink.

Oh, can't you say Mr. Brink?

Bye, Mr. Brink. Excuse me.

That's quite all right. Bye, pud.

So long, Mr. Brink.

Now, I'll stay in the car, doctor,

till you and Mr. Grimes bring Julian out.

Then I'll go in and dress pud, take him home with me.

I'll take over the house tomorrow.

You won't want that straitjacket, Grimes.

Better have it along in case he kicks up a row.

Yes, you better.

Rubbish. An old man in a wheelchair.

As a favor to me, don't take it in.

Ok, doc.

Mr. Northrup, Dr. Evans and a gentleman to see you.

All right, Marcy. Be right along.

Thank you, Marcy.

You're welcome, doctor.

Good night, Gramps, bet I sleep like a top tonight, Gramps!

Yeah, I bet you do, son.

Good night, Gramps!

Good night, boy.

Well, good evening, gentlemen.

This is Mr. Grimes, Mr. Northrup, a friend of mine.

I'm glad to meet you, Mr. Grimes.

Yeah.

Sit down, Evans. Sit down, Mr. Grimes.

Have a nip.

Oh, we haven't time for that, Northrup...

I've been telling Mr. Grimes about Mr. Brink and the tree.

What did you go and do that for?

Well, he's very interested.

I bet you don't believe he's up there.

Oh, sure, sure. I believe it.

I was just going to ask you

to come along with me and talk it over.

There's another fellow I'd like to have you meet

who wants to hear about it.

Well, now, you see, it's this way, Mr. Grimes.

I don't want no more people to know about it

than does already.

You see, it's hard for people to believe.

Now, it ain't everybody can hear Mr. Brink when he talks.

I figured...

oh, what's the use?

Now, look here. Try to get this straight, will you?

I'm taking you to the state insane asylum.

Jiminy.

Evans, where's demmy?

She's outside in the car.

Waiting...

Waiting for pud.

It's just for observation, Northrup.

She'll take care of pud until you get back.

Sure. Now, you just come along with me and do as you're told,

and you may get better soon and come home again.

But there ain't nothing the matter with me, Mr. Grimes.

Then we'll find that out.

But honest, there ain't nothing the matter with me.

Now, look here, are you going to come along like a good man,

or do I have to put a jacket on you?

Well... i guess it looks like I got to, don't it?

That's right.

Well, all right, I'll go right along with you.

I'll say good night to pud.

That won't be necessary.

You can see him tomorrow.

She'll bring him up to the asylum.

Come on, now, Northrup, you might as well come along.

Let's get going now.

All right, I'll march right up to that bughouse and surprise them.

That's right. You surprise them. Good idea.

That's it.

My badge.

Uh, you know, the thing I wear in the parades.

I'm a veteran, you know.

Yes, fine.

You couldn't march without your badge, now, could you?

Oh, no sirree.

Yes.

No, sir.

No, sir.

Oh, I thought maybe it was upstairs.

Sometimes the best way is to humor them.

Now!

Put down that gun! Put that thing down!

Ha ha!

Since you both made up your minds I'm crazy,

you must realize it will drive me wild

if you don't humor me.

Careful, Northrup. You're going to get into trouble,

and this is no way of getting out of it.

It's the only way I could think of at the moment.

Get your hands out of your pockets there!

Stay where you are!

Now, listen, Northrup...

no. You can't convince me I'm crazy.

I got to convince you I ain't,

and I got to prove that what I been saying about Mr. Brink

ain't a lot of poppycock.

You can convince us later.

Wait a minute!

Uh, Evans, you got enough poison in that kit of yours

to kill a fly?

What's a fly got to do with it, Northrup?

I'm going to make a bargain with you.

You take the worst poison you've got

and put it into one of them wineglasses.

Then you take a fly and put him into it,

and if that fly dies, I'll go along with you.

Hey!

Mr. Grimes... Kindly catch a fly.

A bet ain't a bet that don't cut both ways!

If that fly lives, you got to swear I'm sane.

Well, I don't know about that.

Don't worry. Don't worry. I know darn well I can kill a fly.

No, you can't.

All right, it's had time enough.

Huh.

Looks kind of sick, don't it?

Never saw anything deader.

He's dead, Northrup.

Now, wait a minute.

Give this fly a chance to come to.

All right, Northrup.

Well, I'll be jiggered.

Come on. Put down that gun.

Yes, put it down.

Well, a bet's a bet, I suppose.

Wait a minute!

Wait a minute!

He moved.

By golly, he's drunk.

Well, I'll be.

You didn't give him enough poison, doc.

I gave him enough to kill a million flies.

Now are you going to believe

what I told you about Mr. Brink?

To blazes with that drivel!

Wait a minute! You agreed to it!

Put that down now!

You promised him, Grimes.

What's a promise to a lunatic?

Oh, so you don't believe it yet, huh?

Step out, Grimes.

Get out of the way, Evans. Get out of the way.

So you ain't going to keep your word, huh?

I know another way of proving what I say.

Northrup!

He's crazy! He's dangerous!

At this close range,

if I was to shoot a man right through the belly,

he'd die, wouldn't he?

Good heavens, man!

Well, wouldn't he?

Well, of course he would!

Now that's what I'm asking you.

Ah, don't worry, doc. He ain't going to die.

Crazy fool, he'll be dead in an hour.

We'll have to rush him to the hospital right away!

Stay up there, Mr. Brink.

If you come down now, by golly,

I'm in the devil of a fix.

Pulse... normal.

Hello, doc. Say, where in thunder am I?

How do you feel?

Got a kind of a stomachache.

I think I need some food.

Stomachache? man, you ought to be dead.

Doctor?

Yes?

What's the death rate been in your hospital for the past 24 hours?

No deaths, oddly enough.

We've had 3 patients hanging on the Brink,

but they're holding their own,

holding their own.

Hello.

Hello up there.

Hello?

Hello?

Hello! Oh.

Sorry, Pilbeam.

Feeling all right?

Yes, of course. Why?

Oh, I just wondered.

What do you want to speak to me about?

You got me out of bed.

Thought I might need you.

Oh.

Hear you didn't lock Julian up last night.

He isn't crazy.

Oh.

Whatcha got here?

Fishing pole.

Going fishing?

Been fishing.

Catch much?

That's a mouse.

Yeah, it's a mouse.

What's the matter with you, Evans?

Now, don't get excited. We've got to keep our heads.

Northrup shot Grimes last night...

Right through the belly.

Good heavens. Why?

He was experimenting.

Experimenting?

Now, wait a minute. Grimes is all right.

All right?

According to what I know about medicine,

Grimes should have died last night.

But he didn't.

Lots of things should have died last night... But they didn't.

I was up all night experimenting with anything I could get my hands on,

but I couldn't kill a thing.

Except that mouse.

You know how I killed him?

I tied it to the end of that pole

and touched it to that tree.

Ah, good morning, Evans!

Good morning, Finn!

Hello, Julian. Hello.

Well, you fellows are up kind of early, ain't you?

How is my friend Mr. Grimes today?

He seems to be doing all right.

Oh, well, I'm glad to hear that.

Kind of a nasty accident, wasn't it?

Sit down.

I owe you an apology, Northrup.

No, you don't.

I wouldn't have no respect for a man

who'd believe a thing like that right off.

Sit down, Finn. Sit down.

It's kind of interesting, though, ain't it?

Why, yes.

He's an awful nice fellow... Mr. Brink. So friendly.

Thank you very much.

Oh, ho! Good morning, Mr. Brink.

I didn't know you was up yet.

Say, Marcia's making some coffee for us.

Would you like a cup?

No, thanks. I've just had an apple.

Hee hee hee! He's full of fun, too.

I've had a lovely morning.

I've had a mouse in my face.

Go along.

Say, Evans, what's this about Mr. Brink

having a mouse thrown in his face?

Good heavens, Julian! How do you know that?

Mr. Brink just told me.

Good heavens, I've got to go.

No, don't go, Pilbeam.

Got to get to the office. Work to do.

Good-bye, Julian. Good-bye, Evans. Good-bye...

he looks all shot to pieces, don't he?

Huh? Oh.

Say, breakfast will be ready in a minute.

Why don't you stay and have some with pud and me.

I can't.

Thank you all the same.

Northrup...

Huh?

You've got to let him down.

It's no use, Evans.

You know what this is going to mean to the world...

To people suffering incurably...

The blessed release of death?

I am sorry, Evans,

and I'm sorry for them people, too,

but I got pud to look after.

What's going to happen, Northrup, in the next few days

when people find out there's no more death?

Think of it, man. No more death.

Have you ever seen a man over 100 years old?

Sure, uh...

Fred brown's father.

Poor old fellow.

Just...

well, what are you driving at?

By the time pud's a young man,

you'll be getting to be that age yourself.

You've got to let him down, Northrup.

Well, I wouldn't like to become a nuisance to pud.

You've got to let Mr. Brink down today.

I warn you, Julian.

I'm going to do everything in my power to make you.

I must!

Think it over. I'll see you later.

And thank you for not letting me eat that apple yesterday.

You can have one now, if you want.

No, thanks. Good-bye, Northrup,

and I'm sorry.

Good-bye.

Now, Mr. Brink...

If I let you down, you're bound and determined to take me, ain't you?

You will be the first.

That's what I thought.

Guess there's no way out of that.

None.

Nope, I didn't think there was.

I wonder if Evans is right about pud and me,

about my becoming a nuisance to the boy.

My dear man, there's no doubt about it.

Here she comes! Here she comes!

Ding ding ding!

I love you, Gramps.

I love you more than my engine.

Dr. James Evans

having testified that the said Julian Northrup

is incapable of managing himself and his property,

it is the order of this court

that he be committed to the gainesville institution for the insane,

according to the laws of the state,

and it is further ordered that the custody of the child,

John Gilbert Northrup,

be awarded to his aunt Demetria Riffle...

thank you, sir, thank you.

Well, Evans, you fixed me up good and proper, didn't you?

I warned you I'd do everything I could.

Come now, pud, you're to come home with me now.

Gramp!

Well, come along, Northrup.

Just a minute, sheriff.

I'd like to speak to pud first.

Please, Demetria.

Well, Evans...

You're a pretty smart fellow, ain't you?

And that I'll let Mr. Brink down instead.

I'm hoping you will.

You're a pretty smart fellow.

What's the matter with Dr. Evans, Gramp?

Oh, I don't know.

I guess he's kind of sorry.

What's he sorry for?

Pud, I'm going away.

Where, Gramp?

Where the woodbine twineth.

You're going with Mr. Brink?

Mm-hmm.

I'm going with Mr. Brink.

You see, your Gramps has got to be a pretty old man,

and when you get to be a pretty old man,

you get kind of tired.

Are you tired?

Yes, pud. At this minute, I'm pretty gol darn tired.

Let's lay down and rest.

Well, that's what I'm going to do, pud,

but the only way for an old man to really lie down and rest

is to go with Mr. Brink.

I'll go with you, Gramp.

Oh, no, Sonny. You can't do that.

You got your whole life ahead of you.

Don't want my whole life ahead of me.

I want to go with you. I love you, Gramps.

Now, now.

You shouldn't love me that much, son.

Maybe... maybe it ain't right

for you to be living here with me anymore, pud.

Maybe your aunt Demetria

ain't as much of a pismire as we thought she was.

Gramp.

No, no, now, that's right, Sonny, maybe she ain't,

and maybe it would be better for you to go and live with her.

Don't... don't you love me anymore, Gramp?

Why, boy, I'm only trying to make you understand.

Gramp, you don't love me anymore.

Of course I do, boy, but I got to go away.

But I'll go with you, Gramp.

No, no, you can't, son, you can't.

Please, Gramp, please.

No.

Then I don't love you anymore either.

I don't love you anymore either!

I don't love you anymore either!

Pud!

Pud, come here, pud!

Pud, come here, boy!

Pud!

Where are you, boy?

Pud!

He will forget.

Ahh...

Maybe so.

There he is.

Come along now, Northrup.

Why, sheriff, I ain't going with you.

I'm going with Mr. Brink.

Didn't Dr. Evans tell you about Mr. Brink?

Yeah, he did. Well, get it over with.

You and me's got to be on our way.

Take it easy, sheriff.

Northrup, would you rather we left you alone?

No. As a matter of fact, I'd rather have someone around.

Demmy.

Yes, Julian.

Will you promise me you'll be kind to pud?

Of course I will.

See that he gets some fun out of life?

He'll have his play period of course,

but now he'll have education, too.

I shall begin to form his mind.

Why, his mind is forming all right as it is.

I'll teach him little poems to recite,

how to say "yes, sir" and "no, sir,"

and how to curtsy...

curtsy? Pud?

When miss roicroft's school opens...

roicroft?! that's a girls' school.

Yes, Julian, but she's agreed to take pud if he's refined.

Oh, she has, has she?

Ah, you're still a pismire!

Going to make a sissy out of pud!

Ohh!

Well, there ain't nothing I can do about it.

Good-bye, Marcy.

Will you keep an eye on pud?

Yes, Mr. Northrup.

Well, Mr. Brink, if you remember,

the only reason I got you up in that tree

was to keep Demetria from getting the boy.

I've taken that into consideration.

Hey, get away from there!

Go away! Get away from there!

See that bird?

It was singing.

It touched the tree...

Yes, it's dead.

So what of it?

Say, Mr. Brink, I don't expect you got no news yet

about when you're to take Demetria.

No, there's been no call for miss Riffle.

What's that? You were supposed to take her an hour ago?

No, no, I said I wouldn't take her for years.

Well, by golly, why didn't you tell me that before?

If you were supposed to take her...

but I'm not supposed to take her.

Northrup, did he really say that?

Yup! That changes everything.

Come on, demmy!

No, Julian! This is absurd!

Dr. Evans! Dr. Evans!

I'm sorry, miss Riffle, but when a person's time comes...

But there isn't really anything in that tree.

Say, what goes on?

I wonder if you'd mind taking the sheriff for good measure.

What in blazes...

good heavens, Northrup, this is practically murder.

Listen, all of you! Northrup's as sane as any of you.

Sane! Hey, what is this anyway?

Death is up that tree. Northrup's talking to him.

If he lets him down, you're as good as dead, both of you.

I don't believe it.

This is ridiculous!

Shh! He's speaking!

This is the wildest absurdity I ever heard.

You know perfectly well that I have no authority to take any of these people.

What's that? You're going to take the sheriff, too?

Thank you, Mr. Brink, I appreciate that.

I don't believe it. You can't frighten me.

I didn't hear a blessed thing up in that tree.

Me, neither.

I did.

I heard him.

You didn't!

I did! I heard Mr. Brink just as plain as I hear you,

and he said if he could just come down, he'd take anyone Mr. Northrup asked him to.

You can't scare me!

She can't hear a word I say!

She's the most inordinate liar I ever met!

That's exactly what he said!

Come on, let's get started.

No use making him any angrier.

Come on, demmy! Come on, sheriff!

Line up! Here we go off to glory.

Sing, demmy!

# Glory, glory, hall... #

Sing, sheriff!

Let me down!

Stop it, Northrup! We'll do anything you ask!

Look, Northrup, look!

All right!

I'm resigning my office tomorrow.

The democrats can have it for all of me.

Will you let my boy alone?

Julian, I will.

Will you get the tarnation away from me, too?

The tarnation away from you, too, Julian.

Then clear out of here, the lot of you!

I'm going to stay here and look after pud.

I don't care what becomes of the rest of the world.

Get off of my property!

If you ask me, you're getting off mighty easy.

I'm sorry, Evans, but I'm keeping him up in that tree.

Now, Marcy, ain't no need to cry.

What you done was fine, and I love you for it.

That's all right, Mr. Northrup.

I'm glad they believed it.

We're all going to be happy now.

Wait till I tell pud!

Oh, pud! Well...

come on, Marcy, he may have gone back in the house.

Help me find him.

Yes, sir.

Oh, pud!

Oh, pud!

Pud!

Hey, Marcy!

Oh, bill, didn't any of the neighbors see him?

Nobody's seen him.

Ohh.

You go and look through the woods down there.

I'll go down to the creek. Maybe he's fallen asleep in the boat.

Yes, sir. All right.

Oh, pud!

Pud.

Hi, Mr. Brink.

What's the matter?

Gramp doesn't love me anymore.

He doesn't?

No.

Didn't you follow the conversation?

Yes. What are you going to do?

I'm going to run away.

Then he'll be sorry.

Oh, I wouldn't do that.

You're not big enough to run away, my little man.

I am so.

And I'm not your little man.

I'm not a little man at all. I'll spit in your eye.

You'd find that rather difficult.

Why?

I'm afraid you couldn't reach me.

I could, too.

You'd be afraid.

I'm not afraid of the biggest giant on earth.

How do you know that I...

That I'm not the biggest giant on earth?

I don't care a hoot if you are.

You're not very polite.

I'm politer than you are, you big squashapashosapuss.

I never heard that word before.

Neither did I.

You can make up words?

Sure. I can do anything.

No, you can't.

You can't even climb this tree.

I can, too.

I climbed that tree before you got up it.

And I climbed down again. That's more than you can do.

But you couldn't do it now.

You couldn't even climb this fence.

I could do it with one hand.

Let's see.

All right.

Ouch!

Splinters hurt my hand.

I'll have to get myself a piece of tape.

Baby calf, baby calf.

Who's a baby calf?

That's right.

You're stronger than I thought.

Come on now, just a little more.

Careful.

Get one leg over.

That's right.

Splendid.

I guess you can do anything.

Golly. I can see far up here.

Can you see me now?

Yes.

Gee, why do you make your voice so whispery, Mr. Brink?

Don't you like it?

Uh-huh.

I'm as high up as you are now.

Look at me.

Gee, you've got funny eyes, Mr. Brink.

They make me dizzy.

Look at me again.

That's right. Keep on looking.

Come now.

Give me your hand.

Lean forward.

Gramp! Aah! Aah!

How is he?

He'll never be able to walk again, bill.

The specialist said he couldn't understand how he was still living.

Oh, bill.

Gramp.

Yes, pud.

Gramp!

Mr. Brink.

Yes.

Why did you let him do it?

I didn't mean to hurt him.

I only meant to take him.

He was my only hope of getting down from here.

He's in such terrible pain.

Think of the pain he will miss.

Now you understand how much it means to your whole world

to deny me.

I guess I've tried to bite off more than I could chew.

Much more.

Mr. Brink, will you please come down and take us both?

Gladly.

No. You are first.

There.

That's better, isn't it?

I...

Yes.

He was quite a load at first.

Now he's light as a feather.

Here.

Hello, Mr. Brink.

Hello, pud.

Gramps, you're walking!

By golly, so I am, son.

Why didn't you tell me it was going to be like this, Mr. Brink?

My dear man, I've been trying to tell you

how pleasant it is to go with me, but you wouldn't listen to me.

You talk so funny, Mr. Brink.

Never mind me.

Come on now.

Come along.

Where are we going, Gramp?

Yes, that's important. Where are we going?

You'll find out.

Look, Gramp!

Gee, it smells good here, Gramp.

That's the woodbine, Sonny.

How long are we going to be here, Mr. Brink?

For eternity.

How long is eternity, Gramp?

That's a right smart piece of time, boy.

Anyway, we'll be together, won't we, Gramp?

You're darn tootin' we will, boy.

You're darn tootin'...

Julian!

Julian!

Do you have to use such language in front of the boy?

It's granny! We're coming, granny!

Say, Mr. Brink, I thought you told me she'd changed.

Coming, miss Nellie! Coming!

Coming, grandma!