Original subtitles

(laughing)

(upbeat country music)

♫ Now listen here folks, my name is Tom Sawyer

♫ I don't wanna be no doctor or no lawyer

♫ Fishing by the river, that's the only place to be

♫ I wanna be free sitting under a tree that's me

(laughing)

♫ These are the stories of Tom Sawyer

♫ Me and Huck Finn just playing by the river

♫ Chasing that steamboat, teacher let me be

♫ I wanna be free, sitting under a tree

♫ That's me

(slow country music)

- [Tom] Well sir, it's another darn Monday morning,

and the town's waking up doing chores and such.

Which means it's time for me to joggle myself awake,

get up, and get ready for one torturous

long week of sitting in school.

- [Aunt Polly] Peter, you go on now, get.

- Sometimes I almost wish there weren't no Sundays at all.

It only reminds me about Monday, and there must be

just scads of them left until summer vacation.

There's at least 100 dozen other things

I'd rather be doing than trying to stay awake in school

on a Monday morning, and that's the truth by jingo.

Monday.

(groaning)

- I reckon it's time to wake up them boys,

much as I hate to do it, it's so quiet now.

- Oh let them sleep awhile longer mama,

they tuckered out from playing Civil War last night.

- That doesn't matter, they've still got school.

(fiddle music)

(groaning)

- Sid, hey wake up.

(groaning)

- Oh yeah I almost forgot, it's Monday morning again

and Tom's play acting sick as usual.

- Ah, I think I'm a-dying Sid,

there's something I wanna give you before I croak.

Oh Sid, I can't bear the pain.

I'm dying, it hurts something fierce, oh golly.

- Are you really sick or just sick of school?

- I'm a goner,

so I want you to take my magic lamp Amy gave me.

- [Sid] Oh I can't take that from you Tom.

Ain't that your most prized treasure?

You said so your own self.

- Yup, and I want you to have it Sid.

I'm dying, no mere mortal can stand it, I'm a-croaking.

- You're dying?

- Now take real good care of it Sid,

and use it remember me by.

My heart's a-burning up.

(groaning)

It's getting dark.

The pain.

- Oh Tom please don't give up,

I just couldn't bear it if you die, please Tom.

- I think I'm a-knocking on those pearly gates.

And I promise I ain't holding any grudges

for all the times you went and snitched on me.

(groaning)

- Please don't die, please, I didn't mean it Tom.

- Sid is that you?

Speak to me.

(groaning)

- Yes it's me Tom, don't die, I'll go fetch Aunt Polly.

Help.

Help.

Mary, Aunt Polly, it's terrible, horrible.

Hey, Aunt Polly.

(mumbling)

What I mean to say is--

- Slow down Sid.

- Now what's wrong Sid?

- I just don't know what we're gonna do, Tom's near dying.

- Sid, you shouldn't lie now.

- Sid, I'm sure he's only joking.

- [Sid] No Aunt Polly this time it's for true.

- Sid, I can't believe you've been tricked

by all of Tom's malarkey.

- Of course I thought he was lying,

but seeing him caused me to have another think.

And Tom was changing red as a beet to white as a sheet

right before my eyes, Tom isn't himself, he's really dying,

otherwise he's never have given me his prized magic lamp.

- Lordy Sid it sounds like our Tom is sick,

why didn't you say so?

Poor Tom, oh.

(groaning)

I'm here, tell Aunt Polly where it hurts.

(groaning)

We're all right here Tom, tell us what's the matter.

- It's my heart, my heart, oh it's burning like fire.

- Run and tell Jim to fetch the doctor Sid.

- [Sid] Yes ma'am.

- Hey no doctors, it's much too late for that.

- Why Tom?

- No, it's time for my last wish.

It's that all of my family should be here when I croak.

I don't want anyone to leave this room.

- [Mary] Oh Tom I'm so frightened for you,

it pains me to see you feeling so bad.

Now just lie still, there must be something we can do.

This is ever so serious.

(laughing)

- Quiet down boy.

(laughing)

Quit it, quit it, quit it.

- Oh my.

- [Tom] Cut it out Aunt Polly you're making me laugh,

you know how ticklish I am.

- Tom, Tom.

I might've known it'd be something like this.

You get out of bed this instant

and explain yourself young man.

- Well my chest is feeling better now,

but I swear on a toad's nose I got a toothache.

- What?

Let's have a look.

- Yeah, there's a giant old tooth in there, and it's

awful loose, here it is, right here, can't you see it?

- Mary, you fetch me a line of silk thread.

- [Mary] Alright.

- And Sid you run and grab a chunk of the kitchen fire.

- [Sid] Yes ma'am.

- [Aunt Polly] You won't have to put up

with that terrible pain much longer Tom.

- What'd you mean?

- [Aunt Polly] We're gonna pull that old tooth for you.

- I'll be alright, I'll bear up under the terrible ache

one way or another and then I'll bet

it'll go away all on its own.

- Oh no you don't, my mind's already been made up.

- Please don't yank out my tooth Aunt Polly

and I promise I'll never ever play hooky again.

- So you finally admit it then?

This has been nothing but a cruel trick, lying to me,

your heart paining and burning like fire.

I oughta tan your hide Thomas Sawyer, for shame.

- I didn't mean nothing.

(gasping)

Jingo, my toothache is better Aunt Polly,

the pain oughta be all gone by the time I get to school.

- There's plenty of time.

The best thing for a bad tooth is to pull it out.

- Listen, last night I used an Indian charm to cut the pain

so the suffering should be over real soon.

- Tom, don't make things worse,

don't you think one set of lies is enough for this morning?

- That's right, we've heard enough.

You've gone and worried Mary and me half to death

with your mischief, now open up like a brave little man,

and we'll rid you of what's ailing you

and send you off to school.

You've troubled me long enough Thomas Sawyer.

- I'm just a little curious,

what's that chunk of fire for.

(screaming)

- [Aunt Polly] That didn't hurt much did it?

- It's Monday morning alright.

Guess there's no way to get out of going to school today.

I sure enough hate to admit it,

but I was feeling a whole lot better

without that old sore tooth in my mouth.

- Morning Cousin Becky.

- Hi, I've been waiting all weekend long

to get to school today and meet all of your friends.

It's so exciting.

- Wait Becky, I wanted to wish you the best of luck today.

Now have a good time, but since this is

your first day at a new school,

I want you to be sure and mind your Ps and Qs

because first impressions are important.

- Yes ma'am, I promise to behave myself.

- [Mother] Goodbye now Jeff.

- Bye.

- [Becky] I just know I'll like each

and every one of your friends.

Please tell me everything about them.

(slow country music)

- [Tom] While most all of the kids had already

passed through the old covered bridge

and were on their way into the schoolyard,

yours truly was still a-nursing a sore mouth

and having thoughts about running away with the circus.

Anything to get around just sitting in the classroom

where it's all a body can do just to keep his eyes open

and make like he's paying attention.

- [Huck] Howdy there Tom.

- Well howdy there Huck.

What're you up to partner?

- Well the old barrel I've been sleeping in

is a might too hot so I come to the bridge here

to get me some shuteye and suddenly

I got a notion to build a tree house.

- Tree house?

(humming)

That's a great idea Huck.

- And I know where.

Wanna see it?

- Would I.

- What about school Tom?

- Building a tree house will be more fun.

(laughing)

- Ready?

- [Tom] Sure.

- [Huck] It's the best spot in the whole valley,

looking right down the Mississippi,

and there's a nice breeze all of the time.

- [Tom] Just leave it to my friend Huck

to know the best ways for having a good time.

And to think a minute ago,

I'd done give up this whole morning as lost.

Now we was on our way to planning

for a real tree house adventure.

(laughing)

(panting)

- See that elm?

- The big one?

- Well, come on.

- Alright.

- [Huck] I expect it's the finest,

beautiful-est tree in the whole plain world.

- It's funny how quick a feller

can forget all about book learning

when there's an honest to goodness adventure at hand.

Huck was right, dogged if that weren't the perfect place

for climbing and spying and such.

(humming)

The view from way up there in the sky

liked to make me feel I was a bird.

It's times like this when I can't find the words

to tell my mouth what to say, and that don't happen often.

I could see clear over yonder to the riverboat

paddling up the Mississippi, and the captain waving at us.

This sure enough was the perfect spot for a tree house.

This is plain beautiful.

Huck are you for sure gonna build a tree house here?

- Yeah, would you like to help me Tom.

- I know where there's some fine wood just lying around,

and Jim has an old saw and hammer.

- That's right friendly of you Tom.

I don't drawed up a blueprint, see?

What'd you think?

- That's great.

Make me a part owner and I'll help you build it.

(humming)

- What ya got there?

- It's a personal tooth of mine,

you take it and that'll make it a real deal.

- Okay partner.

(laughing)

It's almost as good as a real lucky charm.

You got yourself a deal.

- [Tom] Me and Huck commenced to make plans

to get wood and tools and meet soon as school was out.

That old tooth brung me some luck.

I'm half owners in a treehouse.

Yes sir, I got a good feeling about today.

For a Monday that is.

(upbeat music)

- Alright, now let's proceed.

The first president of the United States, who was he?

(chattering)

Very well, Mr. Thatcher.

- George Washington.

- The correct answer to a simple question.

It's likely that this next one

will be a bit more challenging.

When was the constitution of the United States written?

Yes, do inform us Ms. Thatcher.

- It was written in 1787 sir.

- Right, that is precisely the date in question.

Now see here class, this new young lady

who comes to us from St. Louis

has bettered all of you and on her first day of class.

(murmuring)

Now we all have much work ahead of us,

so please pay attention.

- [Tom] It was long back, 10 o'clock before I got to school,

and I had to try to sneak in quiet like

so Mr. Dobbins didn't take notice.

(shushing)

When I seen him facing the blackboard,

I figured I could get to my desk without getting caught.

But wouldn't you know it?

He must've had eyes in the back of his head.

- Tom Sawyer.

- Present sir.

- [Boy] Tom's gonna get it now.

- And just what may I ask is it this time?

You are very tardy young man.

You insist on trying my patience time after time.

May we please know the reason for your tardiness.

- It was...

- Yes, well I'm waiting.

- Well, it was because I had

to have a sore tooth pulled, see?

(laughing)

- Yes well, I cannot imagine it took

more than a few moments to pull that tooth.

Now I want to know the real reason

for your arriving here so late.

- Well.

- If you're prepared to tell me the truth,

then I promise to spare you a lashing today.

- I am.

- Yes, very well, out with it then.

- Yeah, on my way to school,

I met up with Huck near the covered bridge,

and we talked about building a tree house, and then--

- Tom, is that wretched Huckleberry Finn a friend of yours?

(humming)

Then a spanking shall be necessary Tom.

- But that ain't right.

You said if I was to tell you the truth about this morning

I weren't gonna get a licking.

- I've changed my mind.

- But sir--

- I'm simply making an exception this time.

- But, alright sir.

- [Boy] Oh that isn't fair, poor Tom.

- [Boy] He's gonna get it now.

- I'm sure you know the procedure by now.

Assume the position.

- [Girl] Aw that's a shame.

- [Girl] He's always picking on Tom.

(grunting)

- There, tree house indeed.

I'll have to keep an eye on you from now on.

You will take this seat here in the front of the classroom.

Perhaps a proper example will improve your deportment.

This young lady knows how to behave herself.

Miss Rebecca Thatcher.

- Gosh.

I couldn't believe my eyes, my luck had changed again.

- This is Thomas Sawyer, I'm afraid he's proven

too ornery for his own good, and could bear some watching.

- [Becky] Yes sir.

- I'm sure this arrangement displeases you, yet I...

(humming)

- [Tom] All of a sudden the thought of learning

sounded mighty interesting to me.

What a morning this had been, and it weren't over yet.

- Class, Thomas Sawyer's bad behavior

has made it difficult for us all to concentrate,

so we shall have a period of quiet study time now.

Please open your books and read silently to yourselves.

- There's something I oughta tell you about our teacher

Mr. Dobbins, you see he wants to quit teaching and become a

doctor, but he has to take some kind of terrible, hard exam.

So you see, he likes to leave us studying by ourselves

so he can get some of his own studying done.

Boy, if he was to become a doctor,

I'd sure feel sorry for his patients.

He'd probably try to whoop the sickness out of them.

Anyhow, with Mr. Dobbins caught up in doctor book,

I could turn my attention to Becky,

and try to strike up a conversation.

Hi there Rebecca.

I decided it'd be better to write the message,

"I met you at church yesterday," thinking that'd remind her.

I was expecting something sweet and nice in return,

but Becky grabbed her slate, and commenced to write me back.

But when I read her message, it said, "I didn't meet you."

Now one of us is crazy, and it ain't me, that's for sure.

I shouldn't have to tell you that

girls ain't real easy to understand.

I guess she was just shy, being as how most girls are.

So I tried writing again, hoping to jog her memory

about our meeting on the dock last Saturday,

but she didn't make nothing out of that either.

She was too pretty to be dumb,

so I wrote her some more, hoping she'd recall

that we saw each other when

she got off the boat from St. Louis.

She drawed another blank.

I knowed I wasn't wrong, but I didn't know

how to convince her that she oughta know me.

I hoped I was finally getting through,

but then Becky wrote on her slate that she didn't

remember me, and that she wanted me to leave her alone.

Maybe she just plain didn't like me,

but I figured I'd try one more time to spell it out for her.

(scratching)

I figured this was sure to remind her

about the flower she gave me.

(humming)

(upbeat music)

Now, watch this.

(upbeat music)

- Sure, I remember you Tom.

- And I still got the remains of that flower at home.

(snoring)

- [Girl] It's Mr. Dobbin, he's sleeping again.

- [Boy] He always snores like that.

(laughing)

(country music)

- Hey, how about rats Becky,

do you have them or do you love them, what'd you say?

- I've never been asked that before.

I supposed I don't mind them very much

as long as I don't have to touch them.

(humming)

Can I call you Thomas?

What a nice name.

- They only call me that when I'm about to get a licking.

You can just call me Tom.

- Okay.

- Becky.

- You know about my nickname Tom?

- I should recollect it because I met you three times,

and that's a fact.

- Three?

(humming)

- With Mr. Dobbins at Sunday school, and at your home.

- Oh yes, that's right Tom.

- Do you reckon it'd be alright if I came to visit you?

After school?

- Sure, I'd like that.

- Really?

Okay, okay.

Meanwhile in the forest, Huck was making all sorts of

progress toward putting that tree house together.

Huck may be short on book learning and such like,

but there's not a body from miles around

who has more common horse sense.

Plus Huck's always had to work hard

for anything he's got out of life,

and he ain't afraid to sweat a little

when there's a job to be done.

(grunting)

- [Huck] That oughta hold her.

- [Tom] I've pointed out to Aunt Polly that Huck

gets along fine without book learning,

but she says that don't apply to me.

Anyways our tree house was getting built real good

thanks to my partner Huck.

(chattering)

- Schools out but I ain't seen Tom.

Maybe Aunt Polly's got him doing chores again.

I sure could use his help.

- [Tom] It weren't chores that was occupying me.

I was going courting.

I picked some flowers from Aunt Polly's garden.

I don't take that chance for just anybody.

Becky was special to me.

But then I reckon that's no secret.

(country music)

(whistling)

- Well hello there Tom Sawyer, I'll be right down.

- Okay.

Oh jiminy, it's that plain dog that don't like me.

(upbeat music)

- Mother, my new friend is here.

- Was that Tom Sawyer whistling in front of our house.

I think he needs to be taught proper manners.

- Hi there Cesar.

I was hoping I might charm Cesar

into striking up a friendship,

but somehow I suspected otherwise.

Be nice Cesar, please be a real good pooch

and go and bite somebody else.

I'm almost Becky's new boyfriend.

Come on Cesar, be a good doggie.

(dog growling)

(dog barking)

Help.

Becky, call him off of me.

(dog barking)

- Cesar now, stop it.

Shame on you for scaring my nice new friend like that.

- [Tom] Nice dog.

- I'm just awfully disappointed in him.

- I'm not scared, it just looks like it.

Here, please accept them from my heart.

- Oh, I sure like them Tom.

Would you like to come into the house

and play with me the rest of the day?

- [Tom] Let that be a lesson to you Cesar.

(laughing)

(fiddle music)

Now there's no danger in me ever starting

to like school mind you, but sitting next to Becky

will sure make it a whole lot easier to take.

I might even start to like Mondays.

(upbeat country music)

♫ These are the stories of Tom Sawyer

♫ Me and Huck Finn just playing by the river

♫ Chasing that steamboat, teacher let me be

♫ I wanna be free sitting under a tree

♫ That's me

(laughing)