Original subtitles

[Birds squawking]

- Look at it.Just look at it.

- It looks like alovely home to me.

- [Whispering]: Come on.

Stay close.

Come, come, come.

Oh! What's that?- I don't know.

- Did you see someone?- No.

- Here. Take a look.

- Oh! What delicate"rosa borso."

- But at this time of year?After the first frost?

It's bizarre!

- Ah!

It's as if summer neverended around here. Oh!

[Gasping]- Don't!

If you don't know what it is,you don't know what it will do.

- Martha, it's a flower.- Yes, one of her flowers...

And if there's one thing I know

about Miss Cassie Nightingaleit's: one never knows.

- Oh, stop fretting.

This is the perfect setting forthe Bicentennial celebration.

- But it's such animportant event.

Why celebrate the town'straditions with the mostuntraditional woman in town?

- Because her house is 200years old. It's a landmark.

And the womanobviously has a green thumb.- Huh. Probably green all over.

Like the Wicked Witchof the West.[Giggling]

[Gasping and screaming]

Oh no!

- Did you hear that?- Sounded like a banshee.

- Get real. There'sno such thing.- Really, Cassie?

- Well, maybe it wasMother Nature yawning

in preparation fora long winter's nap.

- I could use a nap myself.[Laughing]

- You better takea break, grandpa.

- I wish Mother Nature wouldstop blowing back all theleaves we just raked up.

- She blew quite a few upagainst the back fence.

Why not pile all yourleaves there, and builda mountain to jump into?

[Sighing and laughing]

- Well, I'm just about readyto throw in the trowel.

[Laughing]- It's no wonder, George.We haven't eaten since noon.

You want a bite?- What's that?

- It's tonight'ssalad. Organic.

- I'm not much forrabbit food.

- Oh, the rabbits wouldn'ttouch my garden.- Why not?

- We have an understanding.- Oh, you do?

- Yeah, everyone iswelcome to visit my garden,

but I made the rabbitspromise, no munching.

[Laughing]

- You've made a wonderfulhome here, Cassie.

- Thank you. That's whyI'm digging extra deep today.

So the roots

really take hold.

I've found my onetrue home here, George.

I can finally say,

this is where I belong.

- Ms. Tinsdale.

- Good afternoon, Ms. Tinsdale.

- Well, that's debatable.- Can I help you?

- No. This is a matter thatneeds to be investigatedby your Chief of Police.

It concernsMiss Cassie Nightingale.

- Go ahead, Martha.

- I was standingoutside Grey House,

minding my own business,when the monster

seized my ankle.

- Cassie grabbed your ankle?- What? No. It was her creeper.

- Her what?- A vine. A vineon the ground, that creeps!

- That's a very unusual plant.- She has a garden fullof freakish plants.

[Whispering]: Some of whichI suspect may be illegal.

- Well, sounds to me likeyou tripped on a root.

- We can't have her hostingthe opening night gala

of our Bicentennialif the grounds are unsafe.

I insist that you fullyinvestigate what she'sgrowing in there.

- If you insist, Martha.

- I do. The citizens ofMiddleton are entitledto a full report.

Out of my way!

- Jeepers creepers.

[Door opening and closing shut]

- Cassandra Nightingale?

- Guilty, officer.

- I'm conductingan investigation.

- Hmm.

- Looking good.

- Well, thank you.

Your kids, George and I havebeen gardening all afternoon.

- I wasn't talking about thegarden, but that looks good too.

- Oh.[Short laugh]

[Kids laughing]

- Hey, Dad.- Hey, kids.

[Laughing]

- Something wrong, Brandon?- Um, yeah.

I just skinnedmy elbow, that's all.

- Let me see that.

I have just the thing.

Essence of aloe.

There. Good to go.

- Thanks. Bye, Dad.

- Bye.- Bye.

- See you tomorrow, Cassie.- Bye.

- Thanks for the five dollars.

- You want a cupof tea, Jake?

- Cassie, MarthaTinsdale claims

that she was attackedby one of your plants.

- Oh, really? Oneof the creepers?

- I know that the plantdidn't just go after her.

- Then you know my plantsbetter than I do.

- What, you're sayingthat one of your plants

actually grabbedMrs. Tinsdale?

- Grab? No, never. But it mighthave given her a little hug.

- A hug?

Well, she's notsharing the love.

She's threatening to move

your Bicentennial gardenparty to another location.

- No. Why?

- She claims yourhouse is unsafe.

- But it's just the opposite.Grey House is a true haven.

I'm even thinking of taking inovernight guests to help withthe bills, but if Martha--

You really shouldn't paymy kids to help you.

- Oh, five dollars is a bargain.And I love being with them.

- They love being with you.

- Well, they do a great job.

And I need lots of help.

Every last leafhas got to shine.

- You should get rid of this.- Oh, no, no, no.

TheVeritasis goingto be beautiful.

Just in time forthe Bicentennial.

- Cassie, you really have donea great job with this place.

- Thanks.

I better go have a wordwith that creeper.

- Your teachersreally pile it on, huh?

- I have to do a history reportwith Jess about Middleton.

- This town?

Lot of books abouta place where nothing happens.

- Ah!- Here.

- Thanks.- Yeah, no problem.

But look, if I runinto Steve or Duke,

you got to get lost, fast.

- How come?- 'Cause...

they're my friends and don'thang out with little girls.

Okay?

[Birdsong]

- Well, I'll be back andpick you up around six?

- Okay, I'll try to washthe topsoil off by then.

[Laughing]

What are you smiling about?

- People who live in glasshouses shouldn't hold hands.

- Nosy.

- Look, it warmed the cocklesof my heart just to see it.

- The plants usually keepthose windows fogged up.

- It wasn't the plantsfogging the windows.

[Laughing]

Well, I should go. The kidsare probably gonna need dinner.

- Oh, they already havetheir dinner. I justsent it off with Jake.

Homemade chili.Heat and serve.

- Well, thankyou very much.

But I guess Ishould go anyway.

They might need some helpwith their homework.

- George, you do an amazing jobwith those two. You help Jake.

You've given them so muchtime and love. What about alittle time and love for you?

- Those kids give meall the love I need.

- Oh, my gosh.

Look.

- Aphids?

- I don't know. Are yougoing to stop by the nursery?

- I could.- Would you havesomeone there take a look?

- Sure thing.- If they have some naturalremedy, would you pick it up?

Oh. I thought I hadmore money than that.

- You just bought four bags ofgrass seed and paid two kids.

[Cassie sighing]Takes a lot of greento keep a garden green.

- Yes, it does.

And add that to the upkeep onGrey House, and the fuel bills.

That's why I've decidedto open it up to a few guests.

- Well, you certainlyhave enough room.- A bed and breakfast.

If you could get to thenursery before it closes.

My B & B.

Beautiful and bewitching.

[Meowing]

There you are, Isis.

Looking for aplace to stay?

- Yes. As a matterof fact, I am.

- Well, I haven't establishedany rates yet, but I'm surethey'll be reasonable.

- I'll get the better ofthe bargain, staying in aplace as beautiful as this.

I'm, uh, Nick.

Nick Chasen.- Welcome, Nick.I'm Cassie Nightingale.

And this is my friend

and adviser, Isis.

And that is

Grey House.- Grey House, huh?

Doesn't look grey to me.It's a lot cheerier than that.

- I put a lot of work into it.[Isis meowing]

Would you liketo see your room?

- Yes. Yes, I would.

I'm sure it's asbeautiful on the insideas it is on the outside.

- Uh, next order of business.

Flowers for the Bicentennialreviewing stand. Cicely?

- I thought mums.Mums are seasonal.

- And affordable.- And colorful, too.

- True, but since this issuch a special occasion,

I was thinking of somethinga little more exotic.- Excuse me.

- Oh sir, we ask that allspouses wait outside.

- Oh, I'm not married.

- Um, sir, the nurseryclosed at 4 and, um,

you're disrupting a privatemeeting of the Garden Club.

- If I could just--

- Now, what were wetalking about?- Mums.

[Short laugh]Mums the word?[Women laughing]

- How can we help you?

- Uh, this plant seemsto have a rare infestation.

- What sort of plantdo you have there?

- ACroton codiaeumrevolution.

It looks like a cross betweenaSorghastrum nutansandaLoropetalum.E

Did you cultivate thisyourself, Mister...?

- O'Hanrahan.

Um, I helped. A little.- Don't be modest.

I've never seen anythingquite like this.[Women agreeing]

You must be anextraordinary gardener.

- I'm Irish. They don't call itthe Emerald Isle for nothing.

[Women laughing]

[Background reactions]

- I have never seenanything like this.

Look at the wayit curls.

It's quite something.[Background reactions]

- The town turns200 years old, right?

- I guess.

- Maybe we should dividethe work down the middle.

You could do the first 100 yearsand I could do the last. Deal?

- Sure.

- Did you read the chapteron the Civil War?

Maybe that's the majorevent we can write about.

- Uh, I forgot to feed my fish.

- Whoa.

Hi.

- Hey.

- Oh, lot of homework?- Tons.

Our teacher assignedus with partners,

and I got stuck with Jess.

- Hmm. Not much help?

- No, she works for,like, 5 minutes and then

she runs away andleaves me with everything.

- Well, it's too bad she had toleave 'cause she's going to miss

having that homemade chilithat Cassie made for you.

[Knocking at the door]

[Loud rock music]Brandon.

Brandon! I can hearthe bass in the kitchen.

[Turning the music off]Thanks.

You didn't have to turn it off,you just had to turn it down.

- No big deal.

- Your buddy Tim called.

- Whatever.

I got some new friends now.

- Oh, you do?

Who?

- Does it matter?

- Well, yeah.

I'm your dad, so I liketo know these things.

- Why?

- Well, because.

I mean, you don't want to talkto me about your new friends?

- Am I under surveillanceor something?

- Come on.

[Electronic noises]

[Sighing]

Brandon's got a newgroup of friends.

So I asked him about it.Is that out of line?

- Teenager hatethe third degree.

- Does he clamup with you?

- No, but I don'task questions.

- What do you do?- Just listen.

[Beeping]

- What time is it?

Oh, George, I got to go!- Don't you likeCassie's cooking?

- I'm eating outtonight with Cassie.

[Hissing]

- Potions and Libationsof Ancient Morocco?

- I like to give myguests some variety.

[Laughing]

And some tea.- Thank you.

Perfection.

Now I mustsay, Cassie,

I'm feeling verymuch at home here.

- Oh, thank you. Well,I designed it that way.

- You're well-traveled, like me.

I can see thatreflected in the decor.

You're drawnto the exotic,

the adventurous,

the unusual.

- Uh, my proudest possession.

A portrait of the Grey Lady,

Elizabeth Merriwick, theoriginal owner of Grey House.

Long ago, she marrieda naval officer...

- And they spent twopassionate months together.

Until he was called toduty. Never to return.

Elizabeth kept a candlein the window for 28 years,

until one night,the candle went out

and they foundElizabeth dead,

of a broken heart.

- Uh, you took the wordsright out of my mouth.

- Cassie?

- Hey, sweetheart.

- The- the doorwas open. Am I early?

- No, no. You'rejust right. Fine.

- Okay.- Um, sorry. This is, uh--

- Nick. Nick Chasen.

- Uh, Jake Russell.

- Jake is our Chief of Police.

- Ah. Hail to the Chief.

- And, uh, Nick was justtelling me about the Grey Lady.

How could you possibly knowso much about my ancestor?

- Because.

I'm a blood descendent ofCapt. Charles "Charlie" Hamblin.

[Crickets chirping]

- There really was a sea captainby the name of Charles Hamblin?

- Yes. I'm living proof.

Well, Miss Nightingale.

Nice to havemet you, Chief.

- Nice to meet you.

He just went upstairs.

- Yeah, that's where his bedroomis. He's a guest. My first.

- You think that'sa good idea?

- Well, I have to pay for thehome improvements somehow.

- But who is he?- He's Nick Chasen.

- What else doyou know about him?

- Well, I know thathe's paid in advance,

and he's a complete gentleman,and a distant relative.

I find thatvery interesting.

- Let me check him out.- Jake.

He just checked in.

[Door closing]

- Cassie?- Good morning, Lori.

- Good morning.What are you making?

- Oh, oatmeal. For myguest. Do you want some?

Lori, aren't yousupposed to be in school?

- I'm on my way.That's why I'm here.

I'm having some troublewith my schoolwork.

- Oh, what subject? Chemistry?

- History.- Hmm.

Needs some more cinnamon.

- I'm working with one ofmy classmates on a report.

She's driving me crazy.- Uh-oh.

- Whenever it'stime to do work,

she runs off to feed her fish.

- At least she cares about them.

- But she doesn't careabout our report.- Hmm.

- I was wondering,do you have...

some kind of...

magic?

- Do you mean a spellto make her do her homework?

Hmm, it's not easy gettingkids to do their homework.

I know. Follow me.

Some very curious thingscame with this solarium.

- What is that?- I'm not sure.

Something to dowith my garden.

Maybe you and Jesscan figure it out.

- But we're supposedto do our report

on a big event that happenedin our town's history.

- Big trees fromlittle acorns grow.

- And so, Duke yells...- Fire!

- And I go stuff all thepaper towels down allthe girls' toilets until--

- The whole place floods![Laughing]- Pardon me.

- You should have been there!- Oh yeah.

- Water down the whole hall!

- Yeah, then Mrs. Buttrick camerunning in, and she slipped

and fell right in it!

- Good afternoon, Cicely.

- Whatever happenedto common courtesy?

[Laughing]- That's funny.- So, uh, what's your idea?

- Oh, um, I remembersomething my dad toldme that was pretty funny.

- Your dad?- Uh...

- Well, yeah.[Uneasy laugh]

See, he changedthe tape in the churchtower, so instead of bells...

[Uneasy laugh]it played Led Zeppelin.

- No, dude. That's- that's lame.

Look, if you want in, you'regonna have to do something huge.

- Like what?- Don't worry about it.

We'll let you know.- Yeah. Later.

- Hmm.- Good afternoon, Martha.

[Martha gasping]

- Miss Nightingale.

- Chief Russell toldme you had an encounterwith one of my creepers.

- Do you doubt it?- Oh, not at all.

I just wondered if you had anychafing or allergic reaction.

- I'm fine. The matter's closed.- Because I have some specialointment in my shop.

- I am not in the moodfor your black magic

this morning.

- You seem very troubledby something today.

- I understandthat you have

a paying gueststaying at Grey House.

- Only one so far. But Ihave room for a couple more.

- You're also hostingour Bicentennial party.

Do you want ourdistinguished guests

to think of Grey House as somesort of flophouse for vagrants?

- A bed and breakfast, Martha.- Do you think it's a good idea?

- The extra income will helppay some bills. You know howit is with these fixer-uppers.

- But, I mean, throwing openyour doors to strangersoff the street...

- Well, they won'tbe strangers for long.

- Frankly, I don't believe thatyou're the best judge of people.

- I don't judgepeople, Martha.

Especially whenI first meet them.

People have a way of showingyou who they really are -if you just give them time.

- Whatever that means.

- You're welcome to stop byand meet him, anytime.

- Ha! That'll be acold day in July!

- Oh, I couldn't agree more.

I'm working on it.

[Man talking at the other end]

It's a perfect opportunity totake advantage of the situation.

- [Great.]- Okay, I got to go.

- Taking care of business?

- It never ends.- Hmm.

For you and me both.

So, did you doany sightseeing today?

- No. To tell you thetruth, I'm perfectlyhappy just to stay here.

- Yeah, Grey House does havea magnetic quality, doesn't it?

- Yes. Keeps whispering to me,

"Stay. Stay."- Are you sure that wasn'tthe hiss of my boiler pipes?

I need to replace thoseas soon as I can afford it.

- Well, old houses

are an expensive proposition.

- Yes, they are.

- The house you once thoughthistoric and charming

suddenly becomes a money pit.

- Well, my lovefor Grey House

is unconditional.

How doesthe old poem go?

Thanks. "Even theweariest river

winds its waysafe to sea."

This home is the end of avery long journey for me.

- Yes, you've been throughso much in your life.

- What do youmean, "my life?"

- Only that a real home isthat much more to the orphan

who spent so manyyears wandering.

- Who told you that?

- I had a great-aunt inBaltimore. She mappedthe entire family tree.

You were one of the mostinteresting branches.

- Hmm. Well, I wouldlove to see that some time.

[Background chatter]- Say.

That guy Cassie took in,he is something else!

- What happened?- He offered to buy me a donut!

- Really? Why amI not surprised?

- But I told him cops and donutswas a crude stereotype.So, he apologized.

And he offered to buy me -a whole bag of donuts.

- Oh, good.- Nice guy. Good looking, too.

- I haven't noticed.

- He's like a moviestar or something.

- Yeah. Just likehe's playing a part?

- You got to lighten up, Jake.He seems like an okay guy to me.

- Seems. I'm not buying it. I'vebeen climbing his family tree.

There's a lot of limbs missing.

I can't find anything

about this great ancestorof his, Captain Hamblin.

- And what doesCassie think?

- Same as shealways thinks.

She operateson intuition.

I'm going to get the facts.

- He's new in this house.We're going to give himthe benefit of the doubt.

[Speaking softlyin a foreign language]

[Cat purring]Just be patient.

Hello, Nick.

[Meowing]

Superstitious?

- No. Not at all.

- That old mythalways bothered Isis.

Would you hand me my broom?

- Yeah.

You make even the simplesttask seem like poetry.

Do you ever stop working?

- A big house isa big responsibility.

- That it is.

It's a shame no onetook you up on your ad.

These are tough times right now.

Still, I'm enjoyingour private time together.

- Good. You can help me sweep.

- Do you think it hasmagic powers or something?

- You think?

- Maybe. It belongsto Cassie Nightingale.

- Is- Is that writing?

Can you read it?

- Sure.

"Saved my life. 1816."

- I think it's the smallestbulbs that bloom the earliest.

[Doorbell ringing]But don't quote me on it. Good.

Gwen! Come in.

Uh, I usually plant themabout a foot deep.

No, no. Uh, six inches.

No. A foot.

Yeah, you're welcome, um,

for what it's worth.

Good-bye, Cicely.

- Cicely Price? VicePresident of the Garden Club?

- Oh, boy. She sure asksa lot of questions.

- Well, I don't have a questionfor you but I do have an answer.

Remember the pests on thatplant you brought in?[Phone ringing]

[Answering machine beeping]- I'll let the answeringmachine get it.

- Hi, George. I'm puttingin the wooden stakes for nextseason's tomatoes, and Iwonder,

would you have an extrahammer in your tool chest?

Maybe I could swing onover and borrow it.

[Beep!]- Was that ourtreasurer, Mrs. Carlyle?

- Ah, I don't know.

I only have eyes for one girl.

And that's my special angel

Lori here.

Mrs. Harrison, I'd like youto meet my favorite girl

in the world,my granddaughter Lori.

- And this is my friend, Jess.

- That's a veryfine-looking dibble.

- Dribble?- Dibble.- What's that?

- It's a gardening tool.

That one looks handmade.A long, long time ago.

- We still use them, to diga little hole to plant a seed.

- Lori, you think thisthing is real history?

- Yeah. And lookat that, Grandpa.

- "Saved my life.

1816."

That's interesting.

- You know, I believethe Historical Society

has some books oncolonial gardening.

- Thanks, Mrs. Harrison!Let's go!

- Thanks, Grandpa!

- You have alovely granddaughter.

[Door closing]- I have to agree with you.

- Um, Australian aphid.

- I beg your pardon?- You wanted to knowthe name of that pest.

It's definitelyAustralian aphid.

- Thank you.

- But you'll haveto act quickly.

Um, do you havea pen, Mr. O'Hanrahan?

[Phone ringing again]- Call me George.[Beep!]

- George, I have theloveliest garden basil,

and I'm making a pesto that'smuch too much for just one.

Call me.[Beep!]

- You seem to be very busy.

I'll, uh, I'll let you go.

- Gwen.

- Hi.

- What time is it?

- Uh, I don't know. 6:10.

- Oh, my gosh. Uh, sorry. Giveme five minutes, okay?- Oh, it's okay.

We're not in a rush. I'm notmuch for sequels anyway.

- Sorry about that.I just lost track of time,

with the house,the shop and the garden.

- And the guest.

- You don'tlike him, do you?

- Well, I haven't know him longenough to form an opinion.

I do know he's moved arounda lot in the past 5 years.

- Jake, so did I.

Until I found Grey House.Maybe it runs in the family.

- I haven't foundany details about hisconnection to the Captain.

- Talk to Nick.

- Talk to him? Whywould I believe him?

- You're sayinghe's a liar?

- No, I'm just saying keepyour distance. That's all.

- Jake Russell, you're jealous.- No. No, I'm not.

- Yes, you are.- Of who? "Slick?"

- Just because he'shandsome and charming...- Oh, now it comes out!

- No. What's just come outis that you don't trust me.

- No, it's yourguest I don't trust.

- Oh, have a littlefaith in people!

- Cassie, after18 years of being a cop,I've learned a few things.

Bad things canhappen to good people.

- Just think of all the goodthings you'd miss out on ifyou always had that attitude.

- Cassie.

You have this wonderful way ofbringing out the best in people.

I just don't want anyone totake advantage of that.- I'm not worried.

- Well, maybe you should be. Wecan't afford to be too trusting.

- I can't afford not to.- I know you have bills. I know.

- Jake, a life where youcan't trust people isa pretty poor life.

- Just promise me that--- I know what I'm doing.

- Two.- Sure thing.

- Hello,Mrs. Tinsdale.

- I'm sorry. Have we met?

- No. I'm about to remedy that.My name is Nick. Nick Chasen.

- Now where haveI heard that name?

- I'm staying at Grey House.- Oh.

Yes, well, I'm just pickingup some pastries and tea.

To go.

- Tea in a cardboard cup?No, no. I won't allow that.

- Oh, but I--- Why not share my Earl Grey?

- But I--- It's perfectly steeped.

In a china cup. May I?

- Well, if you insist.

- You know, thisis the first really

good cup of tea I've hadsince I've come to Middleton.

- Oh?- No offenseto Miss Nightingale.

Oh, no, no. We won'tbe needing that. Marthadoesn't take sugar in her tea.

- Now how on earthdo you know that?

- Any woman savvy enough towear this scarf with this jacket

knows you don't dilute agood blend with cane sugar.

[Laughing]

- You impress me as someonewith impeccable taste.

- It takes oneto know one.

- Oh.

- I should hire your friendsto help us out. I haven't seenthem around here in a while.

- Me neither.

- Well, good friends arehard to come by. I know.

When I was a teen,I moved around a lot.

The minute I made new friends, Iwas off to the next foster home.

Making new friends

was just as hard aslosing the old ones.

- I guess so.

- I guess every teengoes through changes.

Mine just seemed enormous.I had so many questions,

and no one I felt I could reallytalk to, you know what I mean?

- Mm-hmm.- I had a pretty rough time

as a teen.

This...

helped methrough those times.

Maybe it'll help you.

- A mirror?

- When all the questions werespinning around in my head,

I just took a goodlong look at myself

and the answer would come.

- Is it - magic?

Do I talk to it?

- You just take a goodlong look at yourself.

- Thanks.

- Brandon.

Don't sit down, you mighthave seven years of bad luck.

- Thanks, Cassie.- Bye.

- Hopefully Miss Nightingalewill keep her keynotespeech short.

When she's finished,Miss Cicely Price will sing

her originalcomposition entitled...

- ♪ You're aGrand Old Grey House ♪E

In honor of its 200th year.

- And then, let's keepthe music going with, um...

oh, a parade!

- A big parade, down thehill to Town Square.

- With floats. Madefrom flowers.- A dozen floats.

Each one depicting a key eventin the town's 200-year history.

- It sounds expensive.- Mayor Tinsdale...

It's our 200th birthday party!

- We need to close the eventwith some kind of a big... bang.

- Fireworks.

- Sir, we can't afford it.

We can't afford any of this.

- I think you'll find fireworkscan be very reasonable,

if you have connections.

- Excuse me, you'renot on this committee.

- No sir, I'm not. But I wouldlove to serve under yourlovely wife Martha here.

You see, we've beentalking about how to addsome pizzazz to this party.

You can't expect Cassie'sspeech to, uh, carry the event.

- Hmm. Uh, Mr. Chasen isan accomplished businessman.

Please. You were saying?

Nick?

- Thank you.You see, folks,

there was a lot ofrain on the 4th last summer.

I have an old associatewho is sitting on a warehouse

that is full of fireworks.

And I bet I canpersuade him to sell us

those fireworks ata fraction of the cost.

- Now what do yousay to fireworks?

- Oh, and Mr. mayor,for the finale,

I was thinking,a firework tableau.

Why don't we recreate theoriginal town flag of Middleton?

- Oh!- Marvelous!

- Now where would I get an imageof that original town flag?

- Right up the stairs,beside the records office,is the Historical Society.

- Excellent.

- I found him, Derek.- [Where was he?]

- Meeting with theBicentennial committee.

- [Sounds likea major felony to me.]

[Throw the book at him.]- Very funny. Out.

Mr. Chasen.- Yes, officer.

- Can I ask you acouple of questions?

- Could it wait? I haveto get back to Grey House.

- I'll walk with you.- Terrific. A police escort.

- You made a lot offriends in Middleton.

- Yes, it's a friendly town.- You're a friendly guy.

- Is that a crime, officer?- No.

I just wondered how you knew somuch about Cassie Nightingale.- I'm not sure what you mean.

- You know about her parents,that they passed away.

You know that she was in afoster home, that she ran away.

- Yeah. Fascinatingwoman, isn't she?

- Personal stuff. Justanswer the question.

- Chief Russell,

Cassie and I sharea common heritage.

Common ancestors.

We even sharethe same home.

- You don't seem likethe sharing type.

- Is thisinterrogation over?

- No. I wonder why have you beenasking the town clerk aboutthe taxes on Grey House.

- I was curious.

Curious to see how much ahome like that would cost me.

I like this town. AndI'd like a home of my own.

- Ah.- Then you're sure to find it.

- Cassie.

What are you doing here?

- Oh, vacuum bags.My broom needed a break.

And I need two strong men.Looks like I found them.

Stop. It's perfect.

Just needs a little less sun.

- It needs something.- You'll see.

TheVeritashas a way ofsurprising you. Just wait.

The blooms are like nothingyou've ever seen, or smelled.

- Cassie, I'm afraid it's dead.

- With love and a little water,

theVeritaswillburst into color

on the day of theBicentennial celebration.

- Veritas.That's Latinfor truth, isn't it?

- Mm-hmm. Anyone near itcan't help but tell the truth.

- I doubt that.

- Then just stand right thereand answer one question.

What do you think of my plant?

- It's hideous.- See. It's working already.

- If you'll excuse me.

I'm going to get intosomething more comfortable.

- Can I speak to youfor a minute?

- Sure.

- I've been some digging.

- Why do I get feel you'renot talking about gardening?

- Did you know this guy's beenexamining your tax records?

- Jake.- What? It's amatter of public record.

- Well, then he hasn'tdone anything wrong.- Neither have I.

- We had an understanding. Youwere going to leave it to me.

- I just know he's got to besome kind of con man. I wantto take a look around his room.

- Jake!- When he's out to dinner.

- Not another word.- For heaven's sake, Cassie.

Can't you see thathe's not on the level?- I'll tell you what I see.

I see a man whose heart wasbroken when his wife died.

And now he protectshimself by expecting

the worst from everyone.

- This isn't about my heart.- Well, I think it is.

- Why are youbeing so hardheaded?- Why are you so hardhearted?

Just trust that thetruth will show itself.

- Cassie, come on, get real.

- I guess our realities

are just out ofsynch right now.

- I guess so. Whatdo you expect?

- The best.For both of us.

- Hmm. Well, look atus. I'm a cop...

And you're whoyou always are.

- You say that as ifit's a bad thing.

- It's just...

we're so different.

That's all.

- I've got 83 differentspecies in my garden and...

they all getalong just fine.

Some tea?

- No, thank you.

I should go.

- Have a nice day, Chief.

[Floor creaking]

[Suspense music]

♪M♪E

[High-pitched hissing]

- Did I wake you?

Sorry. I couldn't sleep.

- For a moment, I thoughtthis house was haunted.

- Oh. Of course, it is.

All sorts of soulsand scoundrels upand about at night.

Tea?- No, thanks.

As a matter of fact,yesterday, I heard loud voices

coming fromthis kitchen.

A man and woman. Arguing.

- Yes, I heard them too.

- The couple was arguingabout... nothing, really.

This awful man refused to hear

what the lovelylady was saying.

Spooky, huh?

- Nick, you have extraordinarypowers of perception.

Almost as keen as mine.

- Why don't youpack a lunch today?

I've got Mrs. Lacey'sshepherd's pie.

Vegetarian stewfrom Mrs. Buxton.

And your choice ofthree desserts from...

Oh, I forget.- No thanks.

- I'm running out of roomin the refrigerator.

- Uh, sorry.

Wh- what were yousaying, George?

- Wake up, Chief. I'm justsaying most guys would be happy

to have a half a dozenwomen chasing after them.

But me, I think I'ma one-woman kind of guy.

Jake.

What's the matterwith you this morning?

- Oh, Cassieand I had a fight.

- About what?

- Not now.

- Look.

I don't know whathappened, but I know this.

Cassie means theworld to those kids.

And to me.

And to you.

Now you hang in there.

- What the heck is that?

- Oh, just... a mirror.

- Ha! Youfixin' your hair?

- So, what do you want to do?

- I don't know.What do you want to do?

- Maybe climb the school signand change the letters?

- Sounds like fun.If you're a fourth grader.

[Laughing]- Or maybe we could go and--

- No. Look.

We've got yourmission all figured out.

- Cool. What is it?- Trash that stupidBicentennial.

- I don't thinkI want to do that.- Doesn't matter what you want.

- Besides, you can'tback out now.- Why not?

- Because you know too much.- It's just that I don'twant to wreck it for--

- Look, if you wimp out on us,then we'll wreck you.

That's a promise.

- What are you doing here?

- Is that how yougreet your taxpayers?

- Well, you don't pay taxes.

State your business.

- I just brought youa little reading material.

- What's this?

- Read 'em and weep.

Oh, um,

my lawyer will be in touch.

[Door closing]

- Hey!

Why so glum, chum?

You want a cookie?It's got icing.

Chocolate chips.

What is that?

- This is forCassie Nightingale.

- "Saved my life. 1816."

How could this save his life?

- Maybe a bear wanderedinto his cabin,

and he used the dibbleto defend himself?

[Both laughing]You got any better ideas?

- We need to know everythingthat happened in 1816.

- Here.

You read this

and I'll take notes.

- Lori...

I got to tellyou something.

Something I'venever told anybody.

- Yeah?

- It's the reason Ikept running off before.

I...

I can't read.

[Doorbell ringing]

- If it's aboutthe other day...

- No. It's not.

- Oh, I see.What's it about then?

- I'm afraid I haveto give you this.

- Does he have a stronglegal claim to the house?

- You have a handwritten willthat's not notarized.

He has an ironcladchain of title,

proving the house belongs tohis family, which makesNick the sole heir.

- This is my home. It's myanchor. I can't lose Grey House.

- I'm going to take thosedocuments to the town attorneyand see what options we have.

- Yeah, but this says I haveto be out of here in two weeks.

He's taking more than my home.He's taking my heritage.

Elizabeth Merriwick wasCaptain Hamblin's lover,

not his wife, which means shenever had any claim to GreyHouse in the first place.

- And she stole the propertyfrom the Hamblin family.

- Which makes theGrey Lady a thief.

Who knows whatthat makes me.

- Cassie.

You're a smart, loving,

magical woman.

I'll do whatever it takes.We'll fight this together.

- So, the Grey Ladywas the captain's lover.

Not wife, lover.

Cassie Nightingale hada portrait of a commoncriminal hanging in her parlor.

- So all this time,Miss Nightingale has been...

- Nothing but a squatter.

Ha! Thievery and deception,that's her inheritance.

You can't say I didn't warn you.- What about her Bicentennialgarden party?

- Scratch that.

It's Nick's garden party now.And much the better for it.- Has he said he'll do it?

- Of course, he'll do it.He's on my committee, isn't he?

[Doorbell ringing]

- Welcome.

George, you shouldn't have.

- Oh, I didn't. It's amanicotti from Mrs. Fasulo.

- Please, come on in.

- Go on, kids.

Hi.- Hi.

- I love candles.

Don't you, Lori? Brandon?

- You can't leave Grey House!

- I have to.

I've been living here

on borrowed time -some might even say stolen.

So it'll have to be my lastnight here at Grey House.

- Well, it's...It's just for the time being.

- But what about yourBicentennial garden party?

- Well, it's notmy garden anymore.

- Just use your magic tomake it like it was before.

- It's just a house.

Each one of youmeans more to me

than any 10 houses.

- But Grey Houseis your house.

- Well, I'm not goingto discuss this anymore on an empty stomach.

Let's go have dinner.

- Grey House won't be the samewithout you, Cassie.

- Cheer up, all of you.I'm not out of here yet.

- Yeah, but...

the magic's gone - already.

I can feel it.

- What do you mean?

- I know what Brandon'stalking about.

There's a chill in here.I haven't felt it before.

- Yeah. I guess we'reall feeling pretty low.

- But the magichasn't gone away.

It's still working.

- You still believe?

- I asked you for helpwith Jess, remember?

Because I thoughtshe was lazy.

But she toldme something

she's nevertold anybody.

Reading is really,really hard for her.

But now she'sgetting help.

Special classesafter school.

And you know what?The report is going to be great.

I'm doing the reading,

and she's doing thesebeautiful illustrations.

- Yeah, but you're stilldoing a ton of work.

- But I don't mind.

Because Jess toldme her secret,

and I helped her.

That's the real magic, isn't it?

Helping other people.

- Sometimes you haveto dig a little deeper.

- "Trust in the truthwill show itself."

- Lori's absolutely right.

We've all got plentyto be cheerful about.

[All laughing]

[Sighing]- Hmm. I loved the pie.

- Oh, it was good, huh?

Shh.

- What is it?

- If you're very, very quiet...

Do you hear that?

- What? The rain?

- No, listen carefully.You can hear the garden grow.

- But it's November.

I thought the growingseason was over.

- Always growing.Always changing.

[Short laugh]

- George, do you mindwalking the kids home?

I just, uh...

I'd like to talk to Cassie,just the two of us, alone.

- Sure thing.

- Cassie, thanks but...

here.

- There. Maybe theimage wasn't clear.

- But...- I'll make you a deal.

Don't give up on that mirror andI won't give up on Grey House.

- Okay.[Cassie laughing]- We've got rain falling.

- Yes, it's a bit romantic,isn't it, George?

- I'm a little too oldfor that kind of thing.

- Some of the best thingsbloom late in the season.

You know, I almost forgot,would you mind stopping by

the nursery early in the morningand picking up some night-flowering jasmine for me?

- Sure thing.- Where are you sleepingtomorrow night, Cassie?

- Well, there's a small placeover at my shop.

- You could staywith me in my room.

- Come here.- Good night.- Good night.

- Let's go, kids.- Thank you.- Good night.

[Cassie sighing]

- So what did the lawyer sayabout Nick's documents?

- She said there'snothing she can do.

But we can.

- Jake, I didn't want to saythis in front of the kids but...

- But what?

- When I was packing,

I noticed that my diaryhad been tampered with.

- Okay.

Well, we can sendit in for prints.

And do me a favor - the nexttime he has a cup of tea,

keep the cup and we'llsend that in for prints as well.

- I'll put some mugwortunder my pillow tonight.

- Good.

Why?

- Dreams, Jake. I can goanywhere in my dreams.

- You know, betweenyour amazing intuition...

- And yourforensic genius.

- See, how did you knowI was going to say that?

[Laughing]

It's all goingto work out.

[Cassie sighing]- You know, this is notjust about losing the house.

I was so honored to bethe Grey Lady's great-great-

great-great... something.[Laughing]

And now everyone's sayingshe's a swindler.

- Well, you'restill great, Cassie.

And she wasn't a thief.

- How do you know that?

- Because good cups haveintuition of their own.

I love you.

- Hmm. It really isa truth plant, huh?

I love you too.

- And I have to go.- Okay.

- Good night.- Hmm...

Good night, Jake.

Good night, Nick.

- You're still here?

- I was just about to leave.

I'll be back, though.

To remove all the thingsthat are going with me.

I'm leaving the plants.

- Oh, please take them. I'mnot very good with plants.

- Sure, you are.- No. Really. I wouldn'tknow what to do with them.

- But Nick, you just cultivatethem the way you've cultivated

so many friendshipshere in Middleton.

- Cassie, I hope there areno hard feelings about this.

- Hard feelings.What a phrase.

Feelings are tender.The moment they become hard,

you're not reallyfeeling anymore.

- [Lori]: Brandon, we'regoing to be late for school!

- Coming.

Hi, Dad.

- Hi.

- I was just, uh, checkingto see if I should shave.

- Ah!

- So, uh, you probablywant to know where I'mgoing tonight, right?

- No.

I trust you.

- Really?- Really.

- Since when?

- Since a friendof mine helped me

see myself alittle differently.

Come on downfor breakfast.

- Oh, Nick! Yoo-hoo!

Yoo-hoo! Hello!

I left you several messagesregarding the Bicentennial.

- Yes, I was meaningto get back to you.

- Oh well, we can discuss itat this morning's meeting.- About that--

- I was thinking you coulddress up as your ancestor,Sea Captain Charles Hamblin.

Naval waistcoat.Powdered wig.

Oh, listen to me.

I imagine you're swimming inideas for the Bicentennialgarden party.

And as the new ownerof Grey House,

I suspect you'll be settinga very different tone

than Ms. Nightingale did.

Something tasteful and worldly,as opposed to otherworldly -

if you know what I mean.- Well, Martha, this iswhere we go our separate ways.

- Oh, but the early birdBicentennial meeting?

- Yes, unfortunately,other business drawsme away this morning.

- Other business? Idon't mean to pry but--

- Then don't.

- Oh my...

- George?

- Gwen. Let me help youwith that horse manure.

- It's enriched topsoil.

- Horse manure.

I'll bet you think I'm stillspreading it around, don't you?

- I have noticedthat the real gardeners

are the ones down herewhen the store opens.

- Mary and I werealways up at dawn.

She used to say, "The earlybird catches the worm,

while the grub beetle,or the whitefly..."

- She was an avid gardener?- Avid? She was rabid.

Pests used to jump off theleaves just to look at her.

- How's Lori?- Oh, she couldn't be better.

- The two of youseem very close.

- I guess we are.

Sometimes I think it's easierto talk to your grandpa

than to your own parent.

- You listen to her. Peopledon't do that so much anymore.

Really listen to children.- Do you have grandchildren?

- Two adorable twin boys.

But they live so far away,out on the west coast.

Those two used to playin my garden together.

They used to pickall my berries.[Laughing]

- Lori too. I callher my berry baby.

[Both laughing]

- It's nice runninginto you, George.

- Gwen, Cassiesent me here to...

pick up a plant.

[Laughing]

- What's so funny?

- Cassie.

She's quite a lady.

She's probablyexpecting me, but uh...

I have a feelingshe wouldn't mind

if I asked you outfor a cup of coffee.

Would you join me?- Sure.

- Good.

- I've got it!- What?

- The big event we needfor our history report.

The blizzard of 1816.

- Lori, that's it! That's howthis thing saved his life.

He had a vegetable garden.- Without the garden,

he would have died ofstarvation that winter.

- See if you can findany more books aboutthe weather back then.

- Okay.

- Find anything?

- Hmm, no.

- Lori, what are you doing?

- Just digging a little deeper.

This is amazing!- What is it?

- It's a book of storiesby Elizabeth Merriwick.

- Who?- The Grey Lady.

- Oh!

- "For all thechildren of Middleton,

from your friend,The Grey Lady."

[Background chatter]

- He joined the Bicentennialcommittee to gain access

to the HistoricalSociety Library.

He used old land recordsto fake his documents.

- You're sure they're fake?- I had a hunch.

So I sent thedocuments to a lab.

Do you know why Nick wasasking about your taxes?

- Mm-hmm.- He wanted to know the totalcost to take over your property.

Things are adding up.

- Yeah, but will it be enough,and in time to stop this?

- Selling Grey House.

I guess he wasn't so proudof his legacy after all.

- Yeah, and he claimedto love Middleton.

- I've been investigating somerecent real estate fraud. Allthe cases used the same method.

- What method?- The suspect would show upwith a prior chain of title,

take over the deed for nextto nothing - sound familiar?

Yeah, and then heturns around and sells

the propertyto developers.

- Develop Grey House?Into what?

- Well, a farmhousewas knocked down tomake room for a strip mall.

It won't happen, Cassie.

We won't let him sell.I'll get an injunction.

- It's hard enough to think oflosing your home, the thought--

- Listen, no matter whathappens, you have a home.

With me, and Loriand Brandon and George.

My home. It couldbe your home too.

- Dad!- Hi.

- We made a big discoveryat the library!

- Jake, it's a book by ElizabethMerriwick, the Grey Lady.

- There's lots of storiesabout her sea captain.

- It looks like it's allabout Charles Hamblin.

- There might be somethingin there that contradictsNick's claim to Grey House.

- It contradicts everything.- How's that?

- Well, the stories in hereabout the sea captain arejust that - stories.

It's a work of fiction.

Good job.

- Mr. Chasen.

- Who gave you the right?

- Maybe I should readyou your rights.

- The documents aboutyour claim to Grey Houseare forgeries, aren't they?

- Of course not.- They look betterthan the real thing.

- Your chain of title hada few rusty links.

- Could we discussthis in the parlor?

It's gettinga little hot in here.

Perhaps you should be

making these accusationsthrough an attorney.

- I wanted to give you a chanceto, uh, speak for yourself.

- You're too kind.

- Jake, would youmove theVeritasE

out of the sun?

Perfect.

- I'll be blunt. Show meyour evidence or hit the road.

- Exhibit A.

- So?

- The tales of Captain Hamblin.

- Lots of people write storiesabout people they know.

- They're fiction.- Means your claimto Grey House is fiction.

Let me tell you a story, Nick.

It's about a guy who thoughtthat he could use chemicalsto age title documents.

[Sneezing]

But there was this cop who tookthose title documents to a lab.

Now it took an expertforensic chemist, butguess what he found?

- I have no idea.- Superstitious, Nick?

- I think you should both leave.- Before you call the police?

You ever heard of a guynamed Charlie Higgins?

- Never.- Tom Brack?

- Nope.- I think youhave. Because it's you.

You've been pullingthe same crime

all over the state usingdifferent names.

- Nonsense.- You can change your name,your address, even your looks,

but you can't change yourfingerprints, Nick.

- You don't ownGrey House, do you?

The truth, Nick.

- Have it your way.

- At least letme get changed.

- Oh, oh.- Jake.

- Every man hasa right to change.

[Cat meowing]

[Suspense music]

[Dramatic music]

- What are yougoing to do?

- You've hurt alot of people, Nick.

And I can'tlet you continue.

- You're not goingto stop me.

- No, she won't.But I will, Nick.

You know, I've got a half dozenpeople in this state thatare willing to testify

about the thingsyou've done wrong.

- I am going...That plant... I'mgoing to sue you for damages!

- I gave you enough rope.You're the one who tiedyourself up in knots.

[Background chatter]

[Electronic noise]

- "It's on today at 4.

Be there! Steve & Duke."

[Background chatter and music]

- You know, I think weshould take up gardening.

- Really? Yeah, sure.That would be nice.

- Oh, good. We'll hire someonetomorrow. Oh! Yoo-hoo!

[Background chatter]

There you are!

You know, I knew that man wastrouble the moment Ilaid eyes on him.

- Really? Most everyonethought that Nick was terrific.

And that I was the problem.- Oh, really?

I have to admit,

you have done a beautifuljob with this party.

- Thank you, Martha.

- But please keep your commentsto a minimum. After all, thefireworks are set for 7.

- Well, Martha, I willfollow your example

and I will try notto talk too much.[Laughing]

- Huh.

- It's going to be great!- I know.

- Hey, guys. What are you doing?

- Waiting for you.

- You're goingto light a fire?

- Firecrackers.

- We'll throw them up in the airwhen they're dancing.

- And they'll really be dancing.[Both snickering]

- We might get caught.

- How? It's going to bea stampede, like a riot.

- A laugh riot.- What if somebody gets hurt?

- Look, I'm not asking you.I'm telling you.

So do it or you're out.- Man...

I told you not to trustsome stupid cop's kid.

- You know what?My dad's a good guy.

And he's a lot smarterthan you morons.

- Brandon, Steve, Duke...

Just the three I waslooking for. I seeyou like firecrackers.

Well, the fireworks arestarting soon, and I need

three men to help keepthe kids at a safe distance.

- Us?- It's a big responsibility.

But you'll be closer tothe action than anyone else.

Check in with Mayor Tinsdale.

So, did you take a goodlong look at yourself?

- Yeah.

I liked what I saw.

[Classical waltz]

- Hello.

[Background chatter]

- I love your corsage.- Thanks. Cassie gaveit to me yesterday.

It doesn't wilt.

- You girls look awfully cute.- Adorable.

Laughing]Oh, and look at those two.

- George.- You're a prettygood dancer, George.

- Flattery will getyou everywhere.[Laughing]

- A man who cangarden and dance?

- And cook.

Just ask the girls in yourGarden Club. I'm quite a catch.

[Both laughing]

- Where's thatgranddaughter of yours?

- Speak to the angel.- Guess what.- What?

- We spoke to Mr. Bartlett,our history teacher. And...

- We both got "A's!"- Congratulations.

- Thank you.- That's so good.[Applause]

[Laughing]- Look how beautiful!

- Ladies and gentlemen ofMiddleton, honored guests,

I want to thank youfor coming by to visit

the oldest homein Middleton, Grey House.

It was built bya remarkable woman

and I'm honored to stand here

200 years laterand call it my home.

I intend to give itall the love and care

that I possibly can so that200 years from tonight,

others will stand hereand say, as we do,

"What a wonderful home."

I want to extenda special thank you

to each and everycitizen of Middleton

for pulling together anddonating what they could

so that we couldhave our grand finale.

- So generous.- Girls.

[Background chatter]

- "Ladies and gentlemen."

- A little bit louder.

- [Slowly]: "The best place

"for the f...

"for the fireworks

is on the south lawn!"

[Proud laughter]- Bravo! Bravo!

[Background chatter]

- Shall we go to the south lawn?[Background chatter]

- Cassie, you're quite a host.

- It's the guestswho make the party.

[Cassie sighing]

- You always seem to havethe right words to say.

- Oh, thank you.

[Cassie laughing]

[Cassie sighing again]Do you mind if wewatch from here?

I like my fireworks from adistance. They look likelittle spring flowers.

- Yeah. Sure.

So, do you think it wasa lucky chain of events?

- Lucky?

- Yeah, that the wholetown came together to pay

for these fireworks,after Nick ruined our plans.

- Well, maybe thatwas the plan.

- Ah!- Hmm.

- I might have a trickof my own up my sleeve.

Open it.

Marry me?

- Yes.[Both laughing]

[Fireworks popping]

[Oohs and ahs from the crowd]

- I hope the magicnever fades.

- It won't.

Trust me.

[Oohs and ahs from the crowd]