Original subtitles

(lively music) (laughing)

♫ 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 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 want to be free sitting under a tree

♫ That's me

(laughing)

(laid-back country music)

- You ain't ever been out this way, huh?

- No.

- Well, then you've never seen the haunted house, have you?

- Is there really a haunted house out here, Tom?

- [Tom] That's what folks say.

(Jim laughs)

- Is it close enough we could go look at it?

- It's not very far at all.

Just past that hill over yonder.

- If you think we have enough time, I'd like to see it.

Please, Tom, I wanna see

what a real haunted house looks like.

- Hold up, Jim, Becky and me wanna walk for a while.

- [Jim] Whoa! (horse neighs)

- [Tom] Thanks, Jim.

- [Jim] Giddyup!

- It's over this way.

If we're lucky, maybe we'll see a ghost.

- A real ghost?

Do you really think so?

I thought ghosts only came out at night.

- They come out whenever they want.

Truth is, I don't know if ghosts only come out

at night or not.

But if ever there was a place to hunt for ghosts,

this old house was as likely a spot as any.

The closer we got,

the more I got the willies.

Now, the willies are more than goosebumps.

The willies is when your goosebumps get goosebumps,

and that's pretty spooky.

Wanna look around inside?

- No, thank you, I can see from here just fine.

- Have you ever seen such a scary-looking house afore?

- Never.

Thank you for bringing me over to see it,

but can we go back home now, Tom?

- Mm-hmm.

- The way you were talking,

I thought you'd been in the house before.

- Well, I would've gone in today, but you wanted to go home.

- Don't blame me, it's not my fault.

You could've gone.

I would've waited outside.

- You don't understand.

Nobody's ever been in that house alone, nobody.

- Then they're all a bunch of scaredy cats

and they're not very brave.

- I couldn't leave you outside alone.

- If I hadn't been along,

I believe you might have gone in that house.

- I would.

- Would you go in there at night?

- Maybe.

- You would? What about the ghosts?

- I ain't scared of ghosts, Becky.

I don't believe in 'em.

- I believe they're real.

And that house looks like it's got a whole lot of them.

- [Tom] Ever said something so stupid you wish you hadn't?

Well, I told Becky that even

if that house wall full of ghosts, I'd still go in it.

I even told her I'd try to catch one so she could see it.

- [Becky] Golly, would you try it tonight?

- Why not?

- You really don't have to do it, it's too scary.

- I told you I'm not afraid.

- So you'll be able to tell me tomorrow

if the house is haunted and if you saw

any ghosts inside of it?

- Yep.

- And you'll try to catch one if you can?

- If I see one, I will.

- Look, Tom, somebody died.

- Yeah, they're burying old Hoss Williams.

- How old was he?

- He couldn't have been no more than 40.

- Oh, that's awful.

(bell ringing)

(mischievous music)

Hey, Huck? - Hmm?

- I need to talk to you.

- You look like you lost your best friend.

But that can't be, 'cause I'm your best friend.

What are you waitin' for? Come on up.

- So I'm in a mess of trouble,

and I don't know what to do about it.

- You ain't got a choice, you're gonna

have to be in that haunted house tonight.

- I wish I could back out. - Oh?

- But I told her I'd do it,

so now I gotta go through with it.

- Why don't I come with ya, how's that sound?

- Hey, would you really?

- Why not? - No.

I gotta go in by myself.

- I think you'd be smarter to take someone along.

- Well, there's no reason why you can't

come along while I'm inside lookin' around,

you could wait outside.

- Yeah, that might be okay.

- Will you go with me, then?

- I said I would.

- You're a real friend.

- Tell the truth, you're scared about it, ain't ya?

- A little.

- Well, then, now, I'm goin' with you,

and that's all there is to it.

- Yeah, I need somebody to be there to act

as a witness so I can prove I went in the house alone,

but you can't come in with me,

'cause that wouldn't be honest.

- All right, I'll be your witness.

- [Tom] As the time drew nearer for me to go,

I kept tellin' myself, "Ghosts or no ghosts,

"my honor was at stake," and I had to go through with this.

(cat meowing) (mysterious music)

Hey, Huck! Where are ya, Huck?

Darn you, Peter, I thought you was Huck givin' the signal.

- (chuckling) To think you mistook the cat for me,

now that's the best one I've heard yet.

- Come on, it was a natural mistake to make.

- Maybe so, but if you're that jittery,

wouldn't surprise me if you took your

own shadow for a ghost.

- I ain't jittery, and I ain't nervous, neither.

They buried Hoss Williams today.

- [Huck] His ghost'll be stirrin', then.

- [Tom] You really think so?

- [Huck] Yep.

- Wait up!

(shouting) Huck, I think I saw a ghost!

- (chuckling) Come on.

- Honest, look over there!

- Huh?

- [Tom] What is it?

- Lordy, that's devil fire!

- What are we gonna do, Huck?

- Come on, let's get outta here,

let's run for it, Tom!

Come on! - I can't move!

What in the world is that thing?

- Whatever you do, don't look back, just keep walkin'.

Pretend we're just mindin' our own business.

- [Muff] How much farther we gotta go, anyway?

- [Doc Robinson] We're almost there.

- [Muff] That's what you said about...

- Shh, Huck, wait, I heard a voice.

- You sure?

- Yeah, I'd stake my life on it.

- Hope you don't have to.

Let's take a look.

- [Tom] They're goin' in the graveyard.

- You're right, Tom, they are people.

- And it ain't devil fire,

it's just those lanterns they're carrying.

- Why'd they be goin' into the graveyard this late?

- Let's go find out.

- Sorry. (chuckles)

- That sounds a little like Muff Potter to me.

- Yeah, and he's drunk as usual.

Follow me, Huck, but keep it quiet.

- You sure it's him?

- Yep, that's Muff all right.

- Here it is.

Now, the two of you start digging.

(gasping)

- Hey, it's Injun Joe!

- Yeah, but what are they doin'?

- There's no time to waste, the sooner

we get through, the better.

- Let's get started.

Hmm, come on, Muff.

- All right, Joe, let's get to it, then.

Let's see, where is it now?

Oh yeah, here we go, right here.

All right. - You drunken fool,

that's the wrong grave!

- Oh.

- [Tom] Needless to say, Huck and I were mighty

curious to know what they were up to,

and from the looks of things, they were up to no good,

so we just watched a spell, figurin' by and by

they'd show their hand.

- Who's that third guy?

- I can't tell from here.

- We might know his voice if we hear him.

- [Doc Robinson] Hurry, men, it looks like the moon's

coming out, and we don't want to be seen.

- Look, Huck, that's Doc Robinson.

- Who's he?

- He just moved into town recently.

- Why ain't I never heard of him before now?

- He's kinda strange, he keeps to himself a lot.

Huck and I kept watchin', and after a while,

it became pretty obvious to us they weren't

diggin' a grave to put somebody in,

but instead they were diggin' somebody out,

which is not only despicable, it's against the law.

Needless to say, we were scared out of our wits,

but we didn't dare stir from our hidin' place.

(grunting)

- This took longer than I expected.

Hurry, put the body in the wheelbarrow.

- Now, wait a minute, I gotta rest a spell first.

- Rest later.

What? You too tired to keep working, too?

- No, I'm not tired, Doc, I can keep on workin'.

- Then put the body in the wheelbarrow, and hurry up.

- Not yet. - Yes, now!

- Give us another five dollars.

- What?

- Yep, that's the deal.

- That's right, another five dollars.

- Look here, what does this mean?

I paid you men your fee in advance.

- [Joe] We want more.

- Five dollars, or here she stays, period.

- Listen to me, you drunken bum,

I won't have you goin' back on our deal, hear?

I made a bargain with you two, and by God, you'll keep it!

- You have no choice in the matter, Doc.

(laughing)

- (groaning) I need a drink.

- Take your hands off of me!

(fist connecting) (grunting)

- You shouldn't have done that.

- You worthless scum, get to work!

- [Joe] No, you're gonna pay for the time

you had me arrested years ago.

- What?

Why, you, you were a no good vagrant then,

and that's what you are now!

Neither of you are getting another penny out of me,

not a penny, and that's final!

- Pay us, or you'll be sorry.

- Besides, you can't blackmail me.

I've got plenty on you if you blab to the law.

The way Mr. Jackson feel from the cliff

the middle of last month, for instance?

- You better not tell anybody that story.

Never can tell who'd be next fallin' off

a cliff in the middle of the night.

- Very well, then we understand each other,

and I want you to keep your end of the agreement.

If you don't, I'll make sure you're the one who'll be sorry.

- [Muff] You're gonna pay for that, Mister, come back here!

(grunting)

(fists connecting)

(dramatic music)

- Now I'll settle the score, Doctor.

(gasping) (grunting)

- [Tom] What Huck and I'd just seen was worse

than ghosts and haunted houses.

This was real.

(dramatic music)

Hey, he's--

(groaning)

- Get off me, will ya?

Come on, I said get offa me!

Huh?

Ooh, what's this?

Blood!

- It's dirty business, Muff, what'd you do it for?

- Lord, I never done it, Joe, I couldn't have!

- [Joe] That kinda talk won't wash.

- I don't know.

I'm all confused.

No, no, I couldn't possibly have done it, no!

Tell me the truth, Joe, did I do it?

- You two was scufflin' and fightin',

and then you jammed the knife into him.

- Oh no!

(Muff stammering)

I can't recollect anything!

Upon my soul and honor, I never meant to, Joe!

Oh, it's awful, and him so young and promisin',

I didn't know what I was doin', I had no business

drinkin' tonight, it was the whiskey,

it was the whiskey, Joe, I never used

a weapon in my life before, I've fought,

but never with weapons!

- Mm-hmm, Doc Robinson hit you with that

grave marker over there.

You fell flat on your face, but then up you came,

all reelin' and staggerin', and snatched the knife,

and then, just as he fetched you another clip,

you jammed it into him.

- Oh, it had to be the whiskey.

I wish I might die this minute if I knew

what I was doin', I ain't never hurt nobody in my life,

'ceptin' myself, but if he hit me with that grave marker,

like you said he did, maybe I can get off

by pleadin' self defense, it was self defense,

you said so yourself, didn't you, Joe?

- Townsfolk aren't gonna see it that way.

- Then you gotta promise you won't tell a livin'

soul what happened out here tonight, say you won't tell,

please, Joe, you gotta promise me that, Joe, please, please!

- [Joe] Well, I don't know.

- But I've always stood up for you, ain't I, Joe?

- Yeah, I suppose so.

You always been fair and square with me, Muff,

so I won't betray ya.

- Aw, thank you, Joe, you're a real friend.

(sobbing)

- That's enough of that.

Listen, Muff, this is no time for blubberin',

you gotta get away from here, and besides,

we shouldn't be seen together, so you go off yonder,

and I'll go over that-a-way.

Now get goin'.

- Thank you, Joe.

- It's me who should be thankin' you for lettin'

me get away with murder.

- [Tom] To say Huck and I were frantic with fear

is an understatement, we just wanted to get outta there.

We ran as if our lives depended on it,

'cause if Injun Joe had seen us, our gooses were cooked.

No, come this way, Huck!

Hurry up! - I'm outta breath!

Not so fast!

- We can't stop, whatever you do, keep on runnin', Huck!

(shouting)

- Slow down, I have to stop and rest for a bit.

- We can't take the chance, we gotta keep on runnin'!

(lively music)

- I'm sorry, wait a minute, Tom, I'm pooped.

- Just a little farther, Huck.

I figured if we could just make it to the old tannery,

we could hide there.

Our hearts were a-poundin' like drums.

We didn't know if anybody might've followed us.

All we could do was hope.

(breathing heavily)

I've never run so fast.

Boy...

People are gonna find out for sure, Huck,

what do you reckon will come of Injun Joe

killin' Doc Robinson?

- Tom, we're gonna see a hangin' for sure.

- Yeah, I reckon you're right, Huck.

It was murder, and Injun Joe's gonna hang for sure.

- The one who's gonna hang is Muff, the way I figure it.

- Why? Why would you say that?

We saw Injun Joe kill him.

- Don't you see, Tom? Muff thinks he's the murderer.

- You're sayin' Muff could be hanged for

a crime he didn't commit?

- Think about it, we saw Muff wake up with

the knife in his hand.

- We gotta do somethin'.

- We don't dare say anything to anyone

about what we saw, because we're liable

to wind up the next victims.

The two of us can't speak out against

that murderin' Injun, Tom.

Don't you know he'd murder us, too?

- What?

- That Injun Joe wouldn't make any more of drownin' us

than a couple of cats.

- Joe wouldn't really kill us, would he, Huck?

- Why not? He's murdered before.

- What can we do about it, then?

- Ain't much we can do about it.

(gasping) (birds squawking)

(shouting)

Tom? - Yeah, Huck?

- I really don't wanna die.

- Me neither.

- Then we don't dare say a word to nobody.

We gotta keep everything we saw tonight

to ourselves or we're done for.

- Yep. - And we can't worry about

old Muff, 'cause our own lives are at stake

if'n we don't keep our mouths shut, Tom.

- I reckon we've got no choice, have we?

- Nope.

- It's the only thing we can do, isn't it?

- That's right, I reckon there's no other way.

- All right, then mum's the word.

- You swear? - I swear.

- Oh no, that'll never do for this,

somethin' this important calls for writin'.

- I swore, Huck. - I know you did, Tom,

but we gotta swear in blood.

- In blood, really?

- Are you up to it?

- Mm-hmm.

I looked around and found a clean pine shingle

and began to writin'.

The idea of makin' a solemn promise signed

in blood sorta made my insides do spins and flops.

But there weren't no other way.

This was probably the most important

promise I'd have to swear to keep

in my whole life.

There.

- You know I can't read, Tom.

- Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer swears they

will keep mum about this, and they wish

they may drop down dead in their tracks

if they ever tell, and rot.

What do you think about it?

- That's perfect, now we just gotta sign it.

- Who's first?

- You wrote it, so you ought to, I reckon.

- That figures.

You got a pin or somethin'?

- [Huck] Yeah, here you go.

- There, your turn.

Go ahead, I'm gonna look outside.

I think I heard somethin'.

(muffled barking)

- Well, what is it?

- It's nobody, just a dog.

- [Huck] What's he barkin' at, though?

- It picked up our scent and knows we're here.

Hey, are you gonna sign that oath or aren't ya?

(sinister music)

- What in tarnation's goin' on out there?

(moaning)

- What's the matter with you?

- It's Injun Joe, he's right outside.

- Oh no, not him!

(dog whining)

- He's headed this way, what are we gonna do?

(door creaking)

- Is anybody here?

Whoever's in there, come on out.

I could've sworn I heard a noise or somethin'

in here, but I guess it could've been rats.

(Tom & Huck shuddering)

Good thing, one killin's enough for tonight.

(Huck swallows)

(mysterious music)

- I think he's gone.

- Let's go ahead and finish our swearin' ceremony.

I, Huck Finn-- - I, Tom Sawyer,

do solemnly swear we will keep mum about this,

and we wish we may drop down dead in our tracks

if we ever tell, and rot.

Cross my heart, spit in the ocean,

hope to die, I swear I'll keep this promise

'til the end of time.

- [Huck] Me too, all that stuff Tom said.

- [Tom] When I got back home, it struck me

that the reason I went out with Huck

was to go to the haunted house,

and we never even got there.

I was gonna have to tell Becky somethin'

about the house and ghosts tomorrow,

but I didn't know what.

One thing is certain, I couldn't tell her

what we really saw.

I started to have this vision of Muff Potter

bein' hanged for a crime he didn't commit,

with me as the hangman puttin'

the rope around his neck.

All because I'd signed that solemn

promise to hide the truth.

(upbeat whistling music)

♫ These are the stories of Tom Sawyer

♫ Me and Huck Finn, just playin' by the river

♫ Chasin' that steamboat, teacher, let me be

♫ I wanna be free, sittin' under a tree

♫ That's me

(laughter)