Original subtitles

(playful upbeat music)

♫ Ha ha

♫ Now listen here folks my name is Tom Sawyer

♫ I don't want to be no doctor or no lawyer

♫ Fishin' by the river that's the only place to be

♫ I want to be free sitting under a tree

♫ That's me

(playful upbeat music)

♫ Ha ha

♫ 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 ha ha

(harmonica playing}

(tuba playing)

(horse trotting)

- Hello Sheriff.

- Howdy Pat, how's Muff doin' today?

- He's just fine Sheriff.

- Has he eaten anything?

- Yes sir, breakfast and lunch.

- That's good, I want to make sure he's healthy

when he comes to trial.

What about that defense lawyer Mr Fisher,

he come by here yet?

- Yeah.

He was out here quite a while talking to Muff

like they was old friends.

He's from St. Louis, I think.

- Mmhmm.

If you ask me, it's a waste of the tax payers money

having a big city lawyer defending this case.

I don't think there's any question about the fact

that Potter is the one who killed Doc Robinson.

- No doubt about that.

- One drink that's all.

Just one little drink.

(birds chirping)

(sighs)

(fun upbeat music)

- Quiet down, order in the court.

- Hey wait a minute Joe, there's Tom.

Hey Tom where you going?

- We're having a whole lot of fun Tom come and see.

- Yeah Joe what are you guys doing?

- [Boy] We're having a trial.

A stray cat killed this bird

so now we're putting this cat on trial for murder.

- [Tom] Huh.

(cat meows)

- [Boy] You know Tom, just like Muff Potter.

- I'm the judge here and I've made up my mind.

This cat's a murderer which means she's gotta hang.

- How do you know she's the one that did it Ben?

- No doubt about it.

I seen her at my Dad's store chasing our canary

just the other day Tom.

- It don't matter what you saw the other day.

It don't mean she killed this one.

- Of course she did.

When we found her she had it in her mouth.

- Well another cat might have gotten that bird

and she picked it up later.

- What we really need is some witnesses to testify.

- I object we have all the witnesses we need.

(taps tree)

- Let's have order in the court now.

Whoever witness this cat killing the bird has to say so.

(foreboding music)

- Now I'm gonna settle the score.

- If there's anybody here who saw the cat do it

raise your hand now.

Wait a minute Tom, you're the defense lawyer

and the trial's not over yet.

- That game ain't very much fun if you ask me.

- [Joe] Suit yourself.

Well I'll be, wonder what's eating him today.

- They don't know that cat is guilty, not for sure.

It's just like Muff Potter.

Everyone thinks he's the one that murdered Doctor Robinson

but I know for a fact it was Injun Joe.

(funky violin music)

- What's the matter with you.

- [Tom] Nothing.

- You know for some time now you've been looking at me

kinda funny, like you're scared of me.

Why is that boy?

- I don't know what you mean.

- Impolite, you know.

Staring at folks like that.

I'm thinking that you owe me an apology boy.

You do that, and then we can be friends.

- Alright, I apologize.

(Injun Joe laughs)

- You there, Injun Joe.

- Afternoon Sheriff Collins.

What can I do for you?

- Just want to remind you to be at Muff Potters trial

tomorrow you're the only eyewitness we got

and the prosecutor's depending on your testimony.

- You worry too much Sheriff, I'll be there.

- See you then.

- Poor Muff.

Just one mistake and now he's gonna hang for it.

A fella's gotta be awful careful.

(flute music)

- [Boy] When we were visiting the jail last night

the bars on Muffs window felt kinda loose.

Do you think we could help him escape?

- It wouldn't work.

He'd only get caught again and then folks would think

he did it for sure.

- (sighs) Everybody in town's talking about poor old Muff

like he's the devil or something.

Whenever I hear 'em I wanna tell 'em how wrong they are.

- I know what you mean.

- Now I'm wondering if maybe we did the wrong thing,

swearing that oath like we did.

- What do you mean?

- You know the oath we swore that night

after we saw the murder.

About to never tell a living soul about it.

- You know what Injun Joe would do to us

if he ever found out?

- Yeah I guess you're right.

- Everyone's so sure that Muff did it

that no one would believe us

even if we do tell 'em what we saw.

The Sheriff will listen to us and might even believe us

eventually and go after Injun Joe

but we won't last that long.

- Injun Joe will find out we saw what happened a long time

before they arrest him.

- And then, you know what he'll do.

- You think he'd use a knife or a gun?

- I got a hunch it could be something even worst than that.

- Slow and painful I bet.

(wind whistling)

(crickets chirping)

- You were at the cemetery that night weren't you?

- Syd go to bed.

- [Syd] I bet anything you were, weren't ya?

- You're dreaming Syd now go to sleep will ya.

- You're the one that's been dreaming Tom.

You've been talking in your sleep for days now.

- Is that so?

- You've been saying some pretty strange things.

- Like what for instance?

- Ah he's gonna get me, I don't want to die.

He murdered the doctor, ah!

Ah, blood, blood.

I won't tell, I won't tell, I swear.

Please, please, don't kill me.

- Stop doing that.

- Muff's gonna come back to haunt me

cause it will be all my fault.

Ah, blood, blood, I won't tell.

- You're crazy Syd, I didn't say any such thing.

You're just dreaming it all up.

- I'm not.

- You're hearing things.

- My hearing's just fine Tom.

- Shut up, Syd you hear me?

- Oh come on Tom , you can tell me.

I'm your brother.

Tell me what happened to Doctor Robinson that night?

What is it you can't tell anyone?

- One more word and I'll strangle ya.

(slow funk music)

(horse neighs)

- Yoohoo, anybody there?

- Is that you Tom?

- It's me and Huck we bought you some tobacco.

Here.

- I sure do appreciate it, thank you boys.

(crickets chirping)

- We wanted to bring you some whiskey

but we couldn't get you any.

- Well it's the thought that counts boys.

- We'll try to bring it the next time we come to visit ya.

- If there's anything else you need

we'll try and get it for ya.

- I sure would love to have a drink,

ain't no doubt about that,

but the Sheriff gives me three square meals a day,

and I got a bunk to sleep in and a blanket to keep me warm.

Considering the terrible thing I've done,

they're treating me better than I deserve.

- There's something I gotta ask you,

was you really the one that killed Doctor Robinson?

- Yep.

Not that I had a mind to kill him,

it was nothing like that.

It was just that I was so drunk

I didn't know what I was doing.

Never did know when to stop.

Always knew liquor would be the death of me.

A man's likely to do just about anything

when liquor's got a hold of him

and not even know he'd done it.

Why I can't even remember a thing about what I'd done.

All of a sudden my hands were bloody

and I couldn't figure out where it all come from.

Thought maybe I'd cut myself.

(sobbing cries)

And then I saw the body (sobs).

- I heard somewhere that if you can prove

you didn't know what you was doing

you can't be found guilty.

- There ain't no doubt I'm guilty Huck.

I was standing there with the knife in my hand,

and blood all over me,

and the Doctor laying dead on the ground.

I deserve hanging.

Tell you this though,

until that trapdoor opens underneath me,

you two boys are the best friends I got.

I can't thank you boys enough for what you've done.

I reckon you're the best two friends I've ever had

and I'm beholden to ya.

The only thing I'm sorry for is

we couldn't be friends a little longer.

(somber violin music) (Muff sobs)

- Listen to me, don't give up yet.

You gotta keep hoping you know.

- Boy I wanna shake your hand.

Thanks again boys for everything you've done.

Couldn't ask for more than having two friends like you.

No sir.

If only I'd known you sooner,

maybe things would have been different.

(somber violin music) (Muff sobs)

(steamboat whistle blows)

- (sighs) I just don't know if I can stand it any longer.

- Stand what?

- Not telling anyone about it.

- What do we do?

- Listen Huck, I know we swore not to tell,

but if I could find some way of doing it

without anyone knowing that you were there with me,

would that be alright with you?

- Long as Muff thinks he did it, what good would that do?

- You're right Huck, that's the one thing I can't seem

to find a way around.

I could yell my head off in the middle of town

and it wouldn't make no difference.

Unless Injun Joe confesses that he's the one who did it.

- He'll never do that.

- Course if he was accused and he thought folks believed it

then he would..

That just might do it Huck.

- Where you goin'?

- To see Mr. Fisher, the defense lawyer.

- Lawyer, what for?

- I gotta go and tell him how he's gonna defend Muff

at the trial tomorrow.

See ya later.

- Full moon tonight, that must be it.

(crowd mutterings)

- [Man] Murderer!

- I'll arrest the next man who does that.

(tuba music)

Alright Muff move along.

- [Man] Murderer!

Sorry Sheriff.

- And you're gonna get sorrier.

- [Tom Voiceover] As far as I know there wasn't no event

in the history of St. Petersburg that so many people

wanted to go to as the murder trial of Muff Potter.

Ain't no can of sardines was ever packed tighter

than the courtroom was that day.

(gavel bangs)

- Come to order.

(crowd muttering)

Now quiet down.

Now Mister Prosecutor, please continue.

- Certainly, thank you, your Honor.

Now, as I understand it,

you went to the cemetery with Doctor Robinson

and the defendant here.

Now will you please tell the court why the three of you

were there so late at night?

- To dig up the body of Hoss Williams

and take it back to the Doctors office.

- For what purpose?

- I answered that question already.

Didn't the Sheriff tell ya?

- The questions the Sheriff asks you must be answered

again in this courtroom.

Your answer please.

- Alright, he wanted that body for the same reason

he wanted the other bodies we dug up for him.

When Doctor Robinson got those bodies back in his office,

he would examine them.

- [Prosecutor] And why did he do that?

Did he ever tell you?

- He said you can learn a lot about diseases that way

and why people die.

- You said this wasn't the first,

exactly how many were there?

- I don't know, three or four?

- [Prosecutor] You don't know?

- There were four, alright.

- Was Muff Potter there with you each time?

- [Injun Joe] Yeah that's right.

- [Prosecutor] All four times?

- [Injun Joe] That's what I said, isn't it?

(slow strings music)

- [Woman] Afternoon Syd.

Tom still upstairs?

- No he's gone.

- Huh, gone?

That boy will be the death of me.

I told him I needed his help today,

and he's run off anyway.

- Aunt Polly..

- [Aunt Polly] Yes Syd?

- I thought you oughta know that Tom's been having

these awful bad dreams every night.

- Really, what makes you think so Syd?

- Well he's constantly talking in his sleep

and he yells too.

And it's always about horrible things--

- What?

- like murder, and blood, and Doctor Robinson.

- Doctor Robinson you say?

- Yes and I think Tom was out there that night

and saw the killing.

- My goodness that was several days ago

why didn't you tell me Syd?

- Well I wasn't sure until last night Aunt Polly.

- Well that explains it.

I thought he was acting that way because he was sick.

That's why he had no appetite and wouldn't see his friends.

Poor Tom, no wonder he's been so moody, poor boy.

Oh to think of how horrible it must have been for him,

and in a cemetery.

Hmm that's strange.

- What?

- What on earth was Tom doing at the cemetery

in the middle of the night?

- Please go on what did Mister Potter do then?

- I saw him raise the knife above his head

and bring it down with all his might

and (grunts) stab the doctor.

It all happened so fast, so sudden,

I didn't have time to stop him.

I've known Muff Potter for a long time,

and I just couldn't believe he'd do something like that.

Not Muff, it was the liquor, he'd had so much to drink

he didn't know what he was doin'.

- [Prosecutor] You've stated that

Mister Potter drew a knife.

- [Injun Joe] Yes sir, you heard me right.

- What is it this one?

- That's it alright.

- I submit this knife to the court as exhibit A your Honor.

The prosecution doesn't see any need to ask this witness

any more questions at this time.

- Very well.

Your witness counselor.

Have you any questions for this witness Mr. Fisher,

do you wish to cross-examine?

- No sir.

- Are you sure Mister Fisher?

May I remind you that this is the key witness

for the prosecution.

- If it please the court,

I merely wish to remind the witness that he's under oath.

No questions your Honor.

- Just what do you mean by that Mister fancy pants lawyer?

You callin' me a liar?

- Listen, you quiet down, behave yourself, understand?

(Injun Joe grunts)

Very well witness may step down,

but you may be recalled to the stand

so don't leave the courtroom.

(crowd muttering)

Order, order in the court.

Mister Prosecutor, you may call your next witness.

- I call Donald Taylor.

Would you please come forward and be sworn in.

You're positive?

- It's his alright.

I've seen him use it for carving wood.

- So you're positive this knife belongs

to Mister Muff Potter?

- Yes sir.

- Very well.

Your witness Counselor.

- Witness may step down.

- I remember thinking how strange it was

seeing Muff down in the river taking a bath.

Ain't like him at all.

And he was scrubbing himself so hard that whatever

he was trying to get rid of must have been awful hard

to wash off.

- I see, so then from what you saw it could have been blood,

isn't that right?

- No questions, you may call the next witness.

(crowd muttering)

- Calm down.

You hear me? Quiet.

Mister Fisher, as counsel for the defense,

it's your duty to use whatever opportunities

present themselves during the proceedings of this trial

to establish the innocence of your client.

Like maybe ask them with just a few questions.

- May it please the court, I have my own methods.

- Your Honor, the defense counsel's lack of participation

is due to the fact that the prosecution has established

the defendant's guilt beyond the shadow of a doubt

and that attempting to defend him would be and exercise

in futility.

- Mister Fisher, if you do have anything to say,

now is the time to speak your peace.

- Alright your Honor, the defense will now call

it's only witness who's testimony will prove

that my client is innocent.

(crowd muttering)

- Mister Fisher this is highly irregular.

- Sir, on the cause of justice I insist that he be heard.

- I believe it would be a waste of time to call

any more witnesses your Honor.

Don't you agree?

- Nope, is your witness here in the courtroom?

- Yes, I call Tom Sawyer?

(crowd muttering)

- [Judge] You can go sit down now Miss.

- Come forward Tom, don't be afraid.

(gavel bangs)

- [Judge] Order, order in the court.

- Ah there you are.

Well you ready?

- Mmhmm.

(Tom's footsteps)

(slow impending music)

- Are you alright Tom?

- Ah, I'm...mmhmm.

- Everything will be alright.

That chair up there is the witness stand

have a seat and we'll begin.

(Tom gulps)

(Injun Joe clears throat)

- [Judge] Go ahead and sit down boy.

We haven't got all day y'know.

(Tom screams)

(crowd laughs)

- Tom don't know nothing Mister Fisher,

what's he up there for?

- We'll find out soon enough.

- [Judge] Alright quiet down, order in the court.

(gavel bangs)

(crowd muttering)

- The trial almost over?

- It'll be over soon,

ain't no doubt that Potter's guilty, yep.

- So when you went to the graveyard that night

you weren't alone, you were with a friend, correct?

- That's right.

- And the name of your friend?

- I'd rather not say unless I have to.

- At present it's not important and your loyalty

to your friend is admirable,

but later we may have to know his identity

and then you'll have to tell us alright?

- Yes sir.

- Were you near Hoss William's grave that night?

- Yes sir that spot is real close to where I was.

- Can you tell us how close you were Tom?

- Well it was dark and all but near as I can figure

'bout as close I am to Muff right now.

- And why didn't he see you?

- I was hiding behind a tombstone.

- I see.

So at midnight, on the evening of June 17th,

you were in the St. Petersburg cemetery within a few feet

of Hoss Williams grave, then you heard someone coming

and hid behind the tombstone, what happened then Tom?

Tom? Tom?

Well Tom?

I would like you to describe the events

that took place that night.

You must tell us or an innocent man will hang.

- [Injun Joe Voiceover] He didn't see nothing.

He's bluffing.

- There was three of 'em, Muff Potter and another man

were arguing with Doctor Robinson.

They all sounded real angry.

It looked like Muff and the other man

were about to attack Doctor Robinson and then..

(man grunts) (slow foreboding music)

- Now I'm gonna settle the score.

- Huh, no!

(man grunts)

- And the man who did it is the man who's sitting

in front of me right now.

(crowd muttering)

- [Man] Quiet down!

- [Injun Joe Voiceover] Better tend to your own

well-being boy.

- [Judge] Continue Mister Fisher.

- It's that man, the one they call Injun Joe.

He's the one who killed Doctor Robinson.

(crowd screaming)

- Hold it right there Joe.

(crowd screaming)

- [Sheriff] Stop or I'll shoot.

(window breaks) (gun bangs)

(crowd muttering)

- Come on everybody he's getting away.

The murderer!

What are you waiting for?

(crowd chattering)

- I'm real sorry Muff.

If I'd spoken up earlier you wouldn't had

to go through all this but I was too scared.

You probably won't ever forgive me.

It's okay, I don't blame ya.

(sobs)

- You saved me Tom.

Thank you Tom.

Thank you.

Bless you boy.

Bless you. (sobbing)

- [Tom Voiceover] Somewhere out there

Injun Joe was on the loose,

and as good as he is at sneaking and hiding

I got a pretty strong hunch that the posse won't catch him.

And sooner or later, on some dark night,

Injun Joe's gonna come looking for me to settle the score.

I'm glad I saved Muff Potter's life, I truly am.

It's my life I gotta worry about now.

(playful upbeat 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

♫ Ha ha

(harmonica playing)