All language subtitles for Storm.Center.1956.WEB-DL.1080p.DDP2.0.h.264.eng

[♪♪]

[♪♪]

[BELL TOLLING]

Good morning, children.
CHILDREN: Morning, Mrs. Hull.

How's that skinned knee, Jane?

Fine, thank you.

BOY:
Bye.

Bye.

ALICIA:
Good morning, Martha.

MARTHA:
Good morning, Mrs. Hull.

Good morning, Carl.

Did you get around
to cleaning out those bins?

Miss Hull, a man's only
got one pair of hands.

Of course, Carl.

And when we require more,
I'll hire an octopus.

Oh, Dr. Colby called about the Norwood book,

and I haven't been able to find it.

Oh, look under
architecture, modern,

724.9, I believe.

Robert.

Hello, Alicia.

How nice to see you.

And so early in the morning.

You've not been in much lately.

Well, to tell the truth,

I don't get much time
for reading these days.

They are keeping you pretty busy down
at city hall, aren't they?

I was certainly pleased to see

that you were elected
to the council, Robert.

Why, thanks.

Particularly since I count on you

to get me my children's wing.

Oh.

Things are pretty slow at this hour.

But drop around in the afternoon

when the children are here.

The plans are moldering in my desk.

Heh, don't worry,
you'll get it built.

Uh, just as you've got
the library built.

Yes, that was over 25 years ago.

I just hope... Here's the one I want.

We don't have to wait another 25 years.

And do you realize that
it's been almost 35 years

since you first started
picking lint off my suit.

Heh. Goodness.

Have you worn it that long?

I'll check this out for you. Thank you.

[♪♪]

I must say,

you run a very nice little
establishment here.

Then don't be such a stranger.

I'll try not to be.

Good.

I expect you to become
a steady customer.

All right. I'll aim for that.

[♪♪]

ALICIA:
Not exactly light
summer reading.

ROBERT:
We've had some comments
about it.

Now, Robert,

you tend to your counseling
and let me tend to mine.

All right, Alicia.

There you are.

I hope you enjoy it
more than I did.

Goodbye.

[♪♪]

ALICIA:
My goodness, Thomas,

quite a selection
you have there.

Yes, ma'am.

When do you intend to read them?

Tonight.

Mrs. Hull, he know she can't take all these

on a junior card.

Here are my mother's,
my father's and my sister's.

May I have it now?

Yes, Tom.

[♪♪]

It's about a terrible monster.

It's got three heads.

A lion, a goat and a snake.

And they're all breathing fire.

It's a Chimera.

Yes. And it's destroying
the countryside

and scaring people to death.

If I ever see him,
I'll kill him, I'll kill him.

Now, that won't be necessary.

We won't see him flying around
here in Kenport.

Don't you think you've had enough
of monsters for a while?

There are so many other things
to read about.

Why, Freddie,
the secrets of the world

are on these shelves.

And they're all yours
to discover.

Now, let me see.

Here we are.

Stories from the Bi--

But I've gotta read
this one again, Mrs. Hull.

I went too fast.

I've gotta read it lots of times.

Well, certainly, you do.

But isn't it wise

to leave something for tomorrow?

It's so long until tomorrow.

Yes, it is.

I envy you, Freddie.

I'll tell you what,

this is a valuable edition.

But if you'll be very careful,

you may take it home.

Thanks. I promise.

Thanks.

[PIANO PLAYING]

Ahem. Here comes the pride and joy now.

Try not to tease him
tonight, George.

[GEORGE CHUCKLING]

Okay.

Let's put away the Chopstick sand
get out the forks

because I'm starving.

It's not Chopsticks,
it's Chopin.

Chopin or Chopsticks,
I still like a hot trumpet.

Freddie, hi. Hello, Mom. Hi, Dad.

Hi, Fred. What you got there.Hi.

Well, it's A Wonder-Book,
by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

Wow. Okay, put it away
and hurry up.

Come on, we've been holding supper for you.

LAURA: Oh, did you get the timetable?

Oh, yeah. Picked it up.

See, they're still running
trains to Saint Louis.

Aha.

You still set on going?
Oh, I think I should.

I haven't seen Mother
in about a year.

So is that suppose to be bad?

Heh. Look what I married.

A man who makes jokes
about his mother-in-law.

LAURA:
Well, it's only gonna be
for a couple of weeks.

You think you two
can make out all right?

GEORGE:
Long as there's beer
in the icebox.

And books in the library.

What is this, a new routine,

reading at the table?

Put it away, will you, Freddie?

"'Thou has one victory, '
said he,

running joyously to the knee of Bellerophon."

What was that?
Bellero who?

Now, there's a limit, Laura.

No wonder
he's not eating anything.

There's no room.

He stuffs himself with words.

Freddie--Look at him.

Come on, give it up now,
Freddie.

Come on now, eat your supper.

[♪♪]

Come on now.
There's a time for that kind of thing.

Aw, Dad, let it go.
I'll give it back to you

soon as you finished your--Please, Dad--

George, leave him alone.

You can have it-- What--? Let go!

[♪♪]

Did you see the look he gave me?

He's right, you know.

You can always get
another father,

but a good book is hard to find.

[♪♪]

[DOOR UNLOCKS]

Well, why can't he be like other kids?

Why does he have to spend
all his free time here?

Why is his nose always in a book?

Look, a man comes home from work,
he wants his son.

I bought him a catcher's mitt,

it must be a year ago.

Thought we'd toss the ball around and back.

Well, it's upstairs in his desk

just as new
as the day he got it.

Well, I played shortstop

three years
on my high school team.

Do you ever try to reach him

on his own level?

When was the last time
you took him for a walk?

Just the two of you.

Bought him a soda.

You know something,

I don't even know if he likes sodas.

Mr. Slater,

stop wishing Freddie
was somebody else.

Your boy is not just
an average boy.

He is different.

Value that difference.

We put far too much stress on
conformity in this country.

The ballpark
isn't the only place

a person can be a hero.

Some people lead
very exciting lives

locked in a laboratory.

Or even a library.

Well, anyway, I'd be glad
to pay for the book.

No, that won't be necessary.

I'd like to replace it myself.

[PHONE RINGS]

Excuse me a minute.

Yes?

Hello, Alicia. This is Robert.

The council's having its monthly
luncheon today at Morrisey's.

How would you like to join us?

It wouldn't be about--?

Excuse me, Robert.

I'm sorry,
I'll just be a moment.

Well, I gotta shove off.
I gotta get to work.

Well, thank you for coming in.

Yeah, goodbye.

Bye, Miss Lockridge.

Robert, it wouldn't be about my
children's wing, would it?

Yes. We wanna talk about
your children's wing.

Heh, now, hold it, Alicia.

You'll have your chance at lunch.

What are you beating
around the bush for?

Why don't you tell her
what we wanna talk about?

I've known her for a long time,

Alicia's got a mind of her own.

Ellerby's right. Let's handle it this way.

What? Oh, no. No, nothing.

Fine. Then we'll see you at Morrisey's.

Good.

Goodbye, Alicia.

Mrs. Hull. Oh, Mrs. Hull.

I've been chasing you for almost a block.

My goodness, Bert,
that's very flattering.

It's been a long time since
I was chased by a young man.

How about buying some raffle tickets?

Certainly.

What will I win? A Shetland pony.

That's just what I need.

A genuine leather
and silver saddle too.

Aw, isn't that ridiculous,

I'm so jumpy
I've forgotten my purse.

Chase me again
some other time, boys.

I'll buy two tickets.

Good afternoon.

Good afternoon, Morrisey.

Those five foghorns from city hall
are back there

trying to out too teach other.

Thank you.

FRANK: Good afternoon, Miss Hull.

Good afternoon, Frank.

[INDISTINCT CHATTERING]

Good afternoon, gentlemen.

ROBERT:
Well, nice of you to come.

Your sense of timing
is impeccable, Alicia.

Have a beer.

Very well, but I want
to keep a clear head.

Sit down, gentlemen.

I think I can save you all
a good deal of time

by pointing you with a few pertinent facts.

I know your problems,

and I realize we must go
into the matter thoroughly.

Well, Mrs. Hull,

perhaps you don't know
all our problems.

Oh, but I do, Mayor Levering.

It doesn't need to cost
as much as you think.

I have here the price
per square foot,

the comparison of materials,

the advantages of utilizing

our present heating system.
You see, if we should put

the boiler--Alicia. Alicia!

Before you go any further.

Voting over beer
is a little irregular,

but I'll entertain a motion.

Move we appropriate
a reasonable sum

to construct the children's wing addition,

these plans be turned over
to the Building Department

with recommendations to proceed
as soon as feasible.

Second.
Second.

In favor? ALL: Aye.

MAYOR:
Carried.

There, Mrs. Hull,

you've got your children's wing.

Well, I hardly know what to say.

What we'll do about the financing

is another matter.

Oh, I haven't any worries about that.

I know you'll find a way.

I am reminded of the time

when I first talked
to Judge Ellerby

about our library.

Of course you weren't
a judge then, Robert.

You may remember,

our library was behind
a cigar store.

We rented it with the profits of
a teen bazaar given by--

Mm, that is delicious.

Mrs. Cara Bellette's
Afternoon Literary Society.

I said, "Robert--"

Mrs. Hull--

If you--

MAYOR: May we put
that aside for a moment?

What we'd like to know,
Mrs. Hull,

is how in the world did this book
get in our library?

Why, I purchased it.

Do you know what it's about, Mrs. Hull?

Well, yes, it's about
the communist dream.

It's the one Robert took out
the other day.

It's causing trouble.

We've had a number of letter sand
phone calls about it.

Well, I'm sorry it’s creating a commotion.

ROBERT: Well, I've gone through it, Alicia,

and I must say the
commotion seems justified.

That's pretty hard stuff
to take.

It's pure Red propaganda.

Yes. It's not even subtle
about it.

Well, then, we certainly should remove it,
shouldn't we?

Remove it?

That's right.
Remove it.

You don't propose to defend it?

Well, on the contrary,

I think it’s a preposterous book.

But don't you
want people to know

how preposterous it is?

That's why I ordered it.

Goodness, if I took every book
off the shelves

that I thought preposterous...

Look, Mrs. Hull,
why don't you leave

all the other
preposterous books in,

and take this one out, huh?

Well, I think it's a matter of principle,
Mr. Greenbaum.

Why do we have to have
the principles of the communist--?

Now, just a minute.

I daresay there's argument son both sides,

but we could sit here all day.

Exactly.

But a thing like this can stir up
a hornet's nest.

And the fact is, Mrs. Hull,
we want it out of the library.

I'm a politician,
Mrs. Hull.

Now, you've got
your children's wing,

you'll do this for us.

[SIGHS]

I've often said,

a librarian is a peninsula surrounded
on three sides

by a city council.

[ALL LAUGH]

Very well, gentlemen.

Frank.

Mrs. Hull, I'm your devoted admirer.

Now, Paul, you said that
to all the librarians.

[ALL LAUGH]

Some more beer, Frank.

And send this out

with the rest of the garbage, will you?

No. I don't like
to see a book destroyed.

I'll dispose of it someway.

I don't quite know how.

You see, I've never been forced

to remove a book
from the library before.

It's after closing,
Mr. Belden.

[CAR HORN HONKING]

Would you mind closing up tonight?

Of course not, Martha.

MARTHA:
Thank you.

How do you get rid of a book?

You mean one that's worn out?

No, it's not worn out.

It's not pornographic.

It's not an old edition.

Well, that's my problem.

Good night, Martha. Good night.

Well, hello. Well, hello.

Well, hello.

Hmm.

[CAR ENGINE STARTS]

[♪♪]

[♪♪]

[SLOW MUSIC PLAYING
OVER SPEAKER]

I admire the line of your jaw, Mr. Duncan.

Well, thank you.
I admire all your lines.

[BOTH CHUCKLE]

Mm-mm.

My tongue gets loose
when I have more than two.

When's it gonna get loosen up
to say "I love you"?

You can never tell.

Well, in that case...

Here.

Well, maybe I should tell you something.

What?

What?

I love you.

You see,
it does wonders for you.

Now, talk on.

Just love you.

That's all, I guess.

No, it's not all.

It's the little matter of
our getting married, remember?

I've had one, thanks.

I just don't want it to happen again, Paul.

You just made a mistake,
what of it?

Making mistakes
is part of living.

Why, Dr. Cliché.

[CHUCKLES]

Do you know what that
impossible woman has done?

Stuck the book
back in the library.

PAUL:
What?

That's right. She phoned Levering
and he just called me.

Well, she can't do that.

MR. MARTIN:
I know. But she did.

What's this all about?

Let him tell you.

I need a drink.

What's been happening?

Oh, at lunch today,

she worked her way
through half a bowl of gumbo

and agreed to take the book out.

You heard the rest.

What book?

A little number
called A Communist Dream.

Oh, that's what she meant.

What?

I'm just surprised

she agreed to take it out
in the first place.

Why?

Well, she's a woman who’s very set

in some of her ideas.

What ideas?

Mm...

Civil liberties, censorship,

intellectual freedom.

Hmm.

Mr. Duncan?

Hmm.

Well, hello.Hello.

[BOTH CHUCKLE]

I'm sorry.

You just gave me a thought.

Will you please tell us
why you changed your mind?

Well, I'm afraid I succumbed

to a little gentle bribery
the other day.

The children's wing, you know.

Then I thought it over
very carefully.

I simply couldn't do
what you ask me to.

Just, uh, what do you mean you couldn't?

I mean I couldn't remove a book

because it has ideas
we don't like.

But we are faced with
a real problem, Mrs. Hull.

Here are a dozen more letters
we’ve received from--

Letters from people
who helped elect this council.

And here's a petition from
some group calling themselves

The Kenport Women's Committee
Against Subversion.

"Unless there is immediate action,

we intend to take this matter up
with the newspapers."

Now, is that shabby little potboiler

worth this kind of disturbance?

I'm afraid it is.

You can't run a library,

or a city council,

to please everybody.

[CLEARS THROAT]

Do you mind if I smoke? Not at all.

Um, Mrs. Hull,

can't we look at this
from a practical point of view.

Take my word for it,

it's not unreasonable
to ask you to take out

just this one book?

Is it this one book?

We have an entire stack
of books on political theory.

Of all shades.

What will happen if you start
getting letters about them?

Well, we'll have to worry
about that when and if--

Alicia, we've been friends
for a good many years.

I'll stick with you
when you're right.

But when you're wrong,
you're wrong.

What do you wanna do?

Turn the library
into a propaganda agency

by the Kremlin?

Really.
Really, Mr. Martin.

What do you think--?

What do you think

Thomas Jefferson would say to this?

Well, now, Alicia, let's not drag
in the founding fathers.

Please, do not interrupt, Robert.

I feel this most deeply.

There was a book in our library
for many years,

it's still there,

it made me sick to my stomach

every time I checked it out.

Mein Kampf.

Maybe we ran the risk
of spreading Hitlerism,

but it didn't work that way.

It worked the other way.

People read it,
it made them indignant.

Maybe it helped defeat him.

Don't you see, by keeping
this book in the library,

we attack the communist dream?

We say to the communist,

"We do not fear you.

We are not afraid
of what you have to say.

But you fear us.

You fear the truth."

Tell me,

would they dare keep a book
praising democracy

in a Russian library?

Gentlemen, you want me
to take this book

out of the library.

You ought to fight to keep it
on the shelves.

[JACKHAMMER DRILLING
OUTSIDE]

Uh, in the light of what
Mrs. Hull has just said,

I wonder if you'd mind
my asking a few questions?

No, I don't mind.

Ahem, well, one thing,

I just wanted to inquire

if you're familiar

with the Council for Better Relations
with the Soviet Union.

Why, yes, I believe
I was a member at one time.

And the American Peace
Mobilization?

Yes, I belong to that too.

Then there’s the Voice
of Freedom Committee.

Paul, what's the point of this?

A lot of people join a lot
of these organizations,

especially while the war
was going on.

That's right.

I think that last one
got me for 5 bucks.

Do you know that these organizations,

that are half a dozen
of them here,

turned out to be communist fronts?

Yes, I was distressed
to find out they were,

that's why I resigned

and stopped paying attention
to them.

Mr. Duncan, just what
is the purpose of this?

What are you driving at?

What is that infernal riveting?

They're still remodeling across the street.

Well, can't they work on days

when we don't have a
council meeting?

[MUFFLED DRILLING]

Mrs. Hull, I note on this one,

your name appears on the letterhead

as one of the sponsors.

May I see that?

Yes, I seem to be include
din quite a long list.

I wonder if the other names

were also used without consent.

This was done without your knowledge then?

Most certainly.

Still, this was a communist outfit.

You were a member,

you must have believed
in some of their ideas.

No! They believed in
some of mine.

Mr. Duncan,
I resent your questions

and your implication.

It is obvious we do not agree
on many things,

including censorship.

But in case
you are in any doubt,

I am not a communist,
I never was a communist.

I detest communism.

I didn't say you were a communist,
Mrs. Hull.

All I'm trying to show
is that you were careless.

You were easy prey

for a lot of
high-sounding slogans.

You talk about
detesting communists,

but you seem to be blind
to the fact

that these people use our laws.

They hide behind our laws for one purpose,

to destroy our laws.

And forgive me,
but you were duped once.

You could very well be again.

I wish you hadn't gone
into all this, Paul.

I hardly think it was necessary.

Well, I do.

You realize what could happen
if this got out?

What do you mean
"if this got out"?

Well,

not only you won't remove
this piece of trash

called A Communist Dream,

but couple it with this other stuff, oh...

I thought when I walked in here,

you wanted to talk
about banning a book.

We're talking about something
quite different now, aren't we?

Paul, if Mrs. Hull
gets rid of the book,

can we forget all this?

Of course.

As long as it's understood

that in the future,
any questionable material

would be screened by the council.

Remember when you said
just this one book, Mr. Greenbaum?

Don't you see the position
you're putting us in?

Yes, I see the position
you are in,

and I see the position I'm in.

You have the power to remove
the book from the library,

and you have the power
to remove me.

And if you do one,
you will have to do the other.

Good afternoon, gentlemen.

Alicia.

Alicia. Please, don't walk out like this.

You're making it impossible
for us.

I plead with you.

Think it over.

I'm sorry I can't oblige,
Robert.

COUNCILMAN:
When did this organization begin?

Do you remember?
Have you ever seen them?

[COUNCILMEN
INDISTINCTLY CHATTERING]

I suppose it’s simply...

No budging her, huh?

I'm for firing her.
Right away.

We can't do that.

She's been in the job
for over 25 years.

Well, what are we suppose to tell people?

That we met Alicia Hullin glorious battle

and went down for the count?

All the same, she's got a point.

Now, don't start, Edgar.

No, I just meant that
we should think this over.

PAUL: Think what over?

Look, the fact is that either
the council runs Mrs. Hull,

or Mrs. Hullruns the council.

Now, don't underestimate
the feeling behind this.

"We intend to take this matter up
with the newspapers."

Now that's the next step.

The one after that
is the next election,

this council gets slapped out of office.

And we'll deserve it,

unless we've got the guts to take a stand.

There must be some other way.

There is no other way. She made that clear.

Move we discharge
Alicia Hull as librarian

of the public library.

Second.

In favor? Aye.

Aye.

Edgar. How about you?

Aye.

Aye.

On a thing like this,
we ought to be unanimous, Bob.

Aye.

[THUNDER CRASHING]

[♪♪]

I think that's about all.

Can you think of anything more?

No, Mrs. Hull.

If something should come up,

you could reach me
at the Sagamore Alms.

Mrs. Hull.

I feel you should know

that it was something
I said to Mr. Duncan that--

I mean...

Well, I don't think
it was wrong, but--

Then you've nothing
to concern yourself over.

Goodbye, Martha. Goodbye, Mrs. Hull.

[♪♪]

Goodbye, Carl.

Goodbye, Miss. Hull.

Goodbye, Susie.

Gee, Mrs. Hull.

I know, Susie.

Freddie.

Oh, not another contest.

I'm gonna win this one, Mom.

All I've gotta do
is solve 33 of those puzzles

and write 50 words
on how crystal salt flakes

cuts down my working day.

I know.

You go hop into bed.

And if it's a tie,
neatness counts.

[♪♪]

It was certainly nice of Mrs. Hull
to give you this.

FREDDIE:
Mm-hm.

"To Freddie Slater,
with great expectations.

From his friend,
Alicia Hull."

[♪♪]

Yep, they fired her.

Mrs. Hull.

ALICIA:
Why, Freddie.

I have to see you.

But you ought to be wearing a raincoat
on a day like this.

Something terrible is happening.

Well, now,
you come upstairs with me.

We better dry you off.

They're taking your name off
in the library.

I know. I know.

I want to tell you, Mrs. Hull,

no matter what anybody else is saying,

you're still the same with me.

Thank you, Bill.

Don't you wanna be
at the library?

Oh, I do.
Very, very much.

Then why aren't you there?

Well, it's not just me.

The city council's above me
and they are fine men,

but I disagreed with them about something.

What was it, Mrs. Hull?

I'll go to them.
I'll talk to the mayor.

Oh, Freddie. That's very sweet of you,

but I'm afraid it wouldn't do much good.

You see, there's a book

they don't think should be
in the library and--

Well, I couldn't take it out.

What was the matter
with the book?

Well, there are people who don't like it.

Nor, for that matter, do I.

Couldn't you pretend?

Couldn't you maybe
hide the book somewhere?

You could tell them
you're sorry.

And if you really wanted to,
you could come back.

I know it's hard to understand,
but someday you will.

And Miss Lockridge will beat
the library to help you.

I don't want Miss Lockridge.
I want you!

Well, now, I'll be right here in town.

Please, Mrs. Hull.

Please.

Freddie, try to understand.

[♪♪]

[FREDDIE SOBBING]

[DOOR CLOSES]

MAN 1:
It's all well and good,

but there must be
some reason why

only 20 people showed up.

I'll tell you why only 20 people showed up.

Here's why.
Tonight's paper.

WOMAN: I don't mind telling you,
Reverend Wilson,

I had an awful fight
with my husband.

He didn't want me to come
when he read that.

MAN 2:
Why? What does it say?

"Alicia Hull admits
Red affiliations.

"Additional facts
were presented today

"on the dismissal of Alicia Hull

"from her post as librarian.

"It was authoritatively stated

"by a member of the city council

"that Mrs. Hull
admitted membership

"in numerous communist
front organizations.

"It was also learned
the city council felt

"that under the circumstances,

it had no alternative."
And so forth.

Is that true,
Mrs. Hull?

Yes, it's true,
Mr. Jones.

It's about half true.

What isn't there is when and why she joined

and resigned from them.

We may as well face one thing.

If we go into this,
we're going to be called Reds.

[INDISTINCT CHATTERING]

Please.

Even if what Mr. Jones says is so,

I don't think it should stop us from--

Reverend, it's all very well for you,

you're a man of the cloth.

But the rest of us are not
in exactly that spot.

[INDISTINCT CHATTERING]

MISS LAYTON:
I'm disgusted.

Look at us, an item appears in the paper

and we're frightened out of our wits.

It's time we got on with
what we came here for.

In a case like this,

it might be a good idea
to circulate a petition.

MR. CORBETT:
If it's money you want,
I'll be glad to help.

But I can't take much time out.

Petitions and--

One minute please, everybody.

I've been thinking
while you've been talking.

I've left the library,

and I believe we should
let it rest at that.

You all have
your own lives to lead.

Mr. Meaker
is a really busy man.

Mr. Corbett has his clients.

And Miss Layton.
Is in the high school.

Alicia, you can just forget that.

No, Eleanor.

If the day ever came
you should lose your job

because of me,

any of you... Mrs. Hull, that doesn't mean

we have to ge--I want you to drop it.

I really do.

Alicia Hull,
when you came in here,

you were ready to fight.

I've changed my mind, Morrisey.

I want to thank you all
for coming.

I-- I'm sorry.

Everything considered,

I think you've made
a wise decision, Mrs. Hull.

[INDISTINCT CHATTERING]

[PIANO PLAYING]

What is a communist, Mom?

[PIANO PLAYING STOPS]

That's a hard question to answer, Freddie.

All aboard!

Train leaving on track number--

Hi, Freddie. Hi, Dad.

What's the idea, baby?
I thought you were packing.

I postponed the trip.

I've decided my place is with you.

What is it?

Another airmail
special-delivery argument

with your mother?

No, I just changed my mind, that's all.

Where are you heading, buster?

I need to wash off for supper.

I'm not going

because I don't feel I should
leave Freddie right now.

GEORGE:
Well, why not?
What's this all about?

LAURA: It's because of Mrs. Hull.

He's so confused.

GEORGE:
Well, what does it take
to unconfuse him?

I don't know.

Boy, they find somebody'sa Red,

everybody goes about
his business.

And in my house,
the walls come tumbling down.

LAURA: He seems to think
Mrs. Hullbetrayed him with someone.

GEORGE:
That's right, she did.
She betrayed everybody.

Maybe it's a good thing
all around.

Maybe Freddie will spend some time
with the kids now

instead of that library hall.

Really, it's not that simple.

Look, Mrs. Hull played
a big part in his life.

Yeah.
Too big if you ask me.

[SIGHS]

Well, as a matter of fact, I'm confused.

GEORGE: Listen, she belonged
to a dozen commie outfits.

It said so right in the paper.

All right, they held a meeting down
at the Elm Street church,

and they wanted to back her up.

And she told them forget it.

She didn't want any trouble.

What does that prove?

I just can't believe it
about her, that's all.

Oh, man, she even gave me
some of that pinko talk.

Locked in a laboratory.

[CHUCKLES]

Too much conformity
in this country.

And that devil knows
what crummy notion

she put into Freddie's head.

[♪♪]

[WHIMPERING]

[♪♪]

[SOBBING]

[INDISTINCT CHATTERING]

[CHATTERING STOPS]

Say hello to her.

I said, say hello to her.

Hello, Mrs. Hull.

Why, hello, Frank.

Well, it's about time.
Heh-heh.

I was going to send out
the Saint Bernard.

I see you belong to the school of thought

who thinks I ought to be seen around more.

How have you been, Morrisey?

Oh, heh, well, not so good.

My hocks are killing me.

A mass of calcium deposits.

Oh, William, bring me a pail of gumbo.

Double strength.

Old customers falling off.

Don't come in much anymore.

New faces all around.

Younger crowd now.

B-girls.

There's actually nothing wrong
with the people in this town.

Their hearts are in cold storage,
that's all.

We've got snail sin there today.

Eat hearty.

[MOUTHS]
Have you still got
your raffle tickets?

[MOUTHING]
I have to be
with my friends.

[INDISTINCT CHATTERING
AND LAUGHING]

ALICIA:
Bert!

Bert!

Go on, Bert, she called you.

I went over before.

You go. She used to be
your friend.

She's not anymore.

BOY:
Go on, Bert.
See what she wants.

Okay.

BERT:
You want me, Mrs. Hull?

Are you still selling the raffle tickets?

How much are they?

Raffle tickets?

Oh. We had that raffle
already.

Gosh,
that was way back in April.

Was it that long ago?

I must be losing track.

Wait, Bert.

It is Saturday afternoon, isn't it?

Well, yeah.
Sure, it's Saturday.

How would you like to take me
to the movies?

It will be my treat.

Well, now?

Well, uh-- Well, you see, uh--

Well, I'm with some of the fellas.

Well, I know them all.

Why don't you ask them to come along too.

Well, they can't go,
Mrs. Hull.

Some of them had already seen the picture

and some of them
gotta be home early.

All right, Bert.

Another time.

Well, bye, Mrs. Hull.

Bert.

Ask Freddie to come and visit me.

Tell him I miss him.
I will.

My folks say
you can't arrest them

until you get the goods on them.

That's right.
They go underground.

My Uncle Milton knew one once,
went underground.

Hi.Hi.

Hi, you guys.

Hey, Mrs. Hull would sure
look funny underground,

wouldn't she?

[ALL LAUGH]

I dare you to go see her.

Double dare.

You're double dared now.
BOY 1: You gotta go.

I don't have to see her.
I know enough already.

Yeah? What?

Like, for instance?

What do you know, Freddie?

Things.

From her.

And all the things I heard.

BOY 1:
What other things?

BOY 2:
You heard from who?

From my father.

My father, he told me.

He said she's got a brother. In Peru.

And that's the one she’s sending
the secret code to.

From one of those book sin the library.

I just gotta bet

you don't know no more than we do.

I do, I do.

You know where she kept
that secret book?

Yes. All kinds of secret books.

The secrets of the world
are in there.

She told me so herself.

BERT:
Prove it.

If you know where these books are, show us.

BOY 2:
How about coppin' some?

BOY 1:Can't you see he's lying?

He doesn't know anything
about those kind of books.

I do, I do.

I know right where they are.
Hundreds of them.

I can get everyone if I wanted to.

Go home.
It's past your bedtime.

BOY 3:
Yeah. Go on home.

Tell your mother to read you
a bedtime story.

Yeah, go on home.
We got something to talk about.

Something secret.

I'll show you.

I will so.

I'll show you.

Oh, Carl.

Carl. I'd like you
to put these new titles up,

first thing tomorrow.

Can't do it till I get here,
Miss Lockridge.

[CLANGING AND THUDDING]

[♪♪]

Who's there?

Freddie Slater.
What are you doing here?

MARTHA:
What--?

[♪♪]

MARTHA:
Carl! Carl!

Carl!

Carl! That boy,
where did he go?

How did he get in after-hours?

I didn't let him in, miss.

I just got one pair of legs.
I can't be everywhere.

Well, find him and put him out.

[♪♪]

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

Come in.

I hope you'll forgive me.

It's late, I know.

You seemed upset on the phone.

Yes.

It's about Freddie Slater.

Sit down, Martha.

The--

The boy's become
impossible lately.

He doesn't come
to the library much,

but when he does,

he's so strange and hostile.

He used to be so careful
about books.

Now I find him
flaying them about.

I come across him in the stacks,

places where he shouldn't be.

Why did you come to see me?

You have such an influence on him.

You always know
how to manage him.

Well, I don't anymore.

I don't see him anymore.

You don't see him?

I don't do a lot of things
I used to do,

and not by choice.

I should think
you and Mr. Duncan

would have suspected that.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry to have troubled you.

You blame Mr. Duncan and me,
don't you?

Blame you for what?

Because I have
no life here anymore?

I didn't realize. I--

Please don't say
you're sorry, Martha.

Mrs. Hull, Paul was just
one member of that council.

Besides, what he did,
he never meant to harm you.

I'd feel better if you believe that.

Martha, I've tried
to keep my perspective

these past months.

I've tried to understand people

and to forgive people.

But really, do you mind
if I am not concerned

in making you or Mr. Duncan
feel better?

I shouldn't have come.

Perhaps...

Perhaps you'll believe at least
that I really wish I knew

what was happening to Freddie Slater.

I think I know.

He used to love books
and he used to love me.

And now his love
is turning to hate.

Yes, it is frightening,
isn't it?

Good night, Mrs. Hull.

[MUSIC PLAYING OVER SPEAKER]

[INDISTINCT CHATTERING]

Heh. Well,
I'm so--

Dad, your dancing stinks.

Heh, well, so does
your vocabulary.

[ALL LAUGH]

Come along.

Hmm. Paul Duncan.

Mm-hm.

When did you snag him?
Oh, while you weren't around.

Well, now that you got him,

what are you planning to do with him?

Keep him busy
when you are around.

[ALL LAUGH]

Well, I just might, at that.

It's been tried before.

As a matter of fact,
here's my campaign manager.

Campaign manager?
For what?

This Johnny-come-lately of yours

thinks he can lick me

for the legislature this fall.

MAN 1: He's not the only one
who thinks he'll best him.

We need some younger men
down there.

You're welcome to try it.

But don't holler
when you get steamrollered.

Don't make any bets. Remember,
I've got an issue, you haven't.

You mean, you once got
a librarian fired?

PAUL:
I wouldn't put it
just that way.

I know.

You're going to play
the young hero

who saved us
from the Red menace.

Well, that issue may backfire.

I'll take my chances.

WOMAN 1:
Whatever became of her, anyway?

Oh, she's still around.
I saw her the other day.

WOMAN 1:
It is a pity, though,

how she let herself be
taken in by those people.

MAN 2:I'm glad you fellows
didn't lether buffalo you.

Look, why don't we cop it, folks.

It's all long ago and far away.

Still, it's a comfort to know

my children aren't subjected
to her influence any longer.

I think she was a danger
to the community.

Are you talking about Mrs. Hull?

WOMAN 2:
I certainly am.

I think that's ridiculous.

Why, some of the loveliest times of my life

were spent under Mrs. Hull's influence.

And if she's a danger
to the community, then so am I.

And so is every kid who grew up with me.

Hazel--No, Dad. I mean it.

How about it, Sammy?

Do you see Mrs. Hull working
like a little beaver

for the Kremlin?

Golly, I don't know.
I never gave it much thought.

Maybe it's time you started.

MAN 1: Is that gonna be your slogan?

"Young America awake,
your comic books are in danger."

I guess the only thing worse

than a young politician
with an issue,

is an old politician
without one.

Paul, you aren't really serious
about any of this.

Of course, he's serious.
He's right too.

But he can't be.

He just can't be.

Look, this is no place
to discuss it.

WOMAN 1:After all, Miss Lockridge,

we can't be blind
to what's going on.

H-bombs, brainwashing.

Boys like Sammy here
still being drafted.

Their careers interrupted.

Alicia Hull knows something
about that.

In case you have forgotten,
Dorothy,

her husband's career
was interrupted

at Chateau-Thierry.

Where's Chateau-Thierry?

In France.

That was the First World War.

Steven Hull was a member
of this club.

In fact, he was one
of the founding members

along with me and a few others.

Was he a radical too?

Very radical.

He had one of the most radical
drives off the third tee

you ever saw.

Never played it safe,

always trying
to clear the brook.

Very radical.

Handsome man too, Dorothy,
if you will remember.

And Alicia was a pretty
little thing in those days.

Full of ginger.

This club's not seen
that kind of pep since.

Not even from you, Hazel.

They made quite a pair.

They were married
less than a year

when Steve was drafted.

Pity.

Alicia was the kind of girl...

She should have had 20 kids.

Fill that with the same, Sammy.

You were saying
you had an issue?

Yes.

And in spite of the heartsand flowers,
I still have.

Paul.

[ACCORDION PLAYING]

[FREDDIE SCREAMING]

LAURA:
Freddie!

Freddie, hon, what is it?

What is it? Oh, Mom, I'm scared!

Oh, you're just dreaming again, darling.

It's all right.

They were there, moving
in the dark, like snakes.

What, dear? The books!

[FREDDIE PANTING]

And then there were
little footsteps.

It was Mrs. Hull,
and she was yelling at me.

And I drew a labyrinth
in the books!

I mean, the snakes!

They wouldn't stop.

It's all right, Fred.
We are here now.

[LAURA SHUSHING
AND FREDDIE PANTING]

That's funny. You're all right.

There must be something in the air tonight

because, boy, I've been
having bad dreams too.

[FREDDIE CONTINUES PANTING]

I don't feel much like sleeping.

Hey, how about you and me take
a little walk, huh, Freddie?

A walk?

Sure. Get a little air
and clear the cobwebs.

Maybe even get a soda, huh?

Is it all right, Mama?

I guess so.

Throw some clothes on.

Sure, Dad.

Of course, dreams come
from somewhere.

I know every time
I have a bad dream,

I can usually figure out why.

Snakes that come out of books.

That's pretty scary, all right.

Some of them were huge,
with flames shooting out them.

Like the Chimera.

The what?

It's a monster.

In A Wonder-Book.

Oh.

Sure. That's it,
that book.

That's where your dream
came from.

Books that stir people up
give them nightmares.

They can make pretty bad stuff.

Gee, guess you're sure right on that, Dad.

Of course, there are good
book sand bad books, you know.

Good people and bad people.

And you say Mrs. Hull
was in your dream too, huh?

I know you used to like her a lot, Freddie.

That's the trouble, you can’t always
put your finger on them.

Could have been that fella
behind the soda fountain.

They could pop up anywhere.Yeah.

[WELDING GUN HISSING]

We've got one of those
down at the plant, son.

It builds up a temperature
of 7000 degrees.

Cuts through solid steel
like a hunk of cheese.

[WELDING GUN
CONTINUES HISSING]

[♪♪]

Sure, she talks sweet as honey.

All that time, you can bet
she was working away back there.

She had 25 years to build
those shelves with poison.

Hmph,
she and those books of hers.

All they want is one thing,
smash you and destroy.

Smash everything
we've ever built up

in this country.

♪ ...were held on

♪ Our dearest memories
Enshrine ♪

♪ In civic pride
And hope sublime ♪

♪ There stands
Our library ♪

♪ Yours and mine

♪ Of liberty and anarchy

♪ To every you
And every me ♪

♪ And thankfully
In every way ♪

♪ Our library
We have today ♪

[ALL CLAPPING]

I'm going to address you today
not as your mayor,

but as a father.

All of us are troubled

about what the future holds
for our children.

This new children's wing

is the kind of thing that reassures us.

It's no accident that our library stands

in the center of town.

It was planned that way.

A library is the center of a town.

We dedicate this addition
to our town

and to our children.

[CLAPPING]

Hear, hear.

And now we'll hear from
our high school band.

[BAND PLAYING]

[DOOR CLOSING]

Alicia.

I can't take the stairs anymore.

Why, Robert--

I've been trying to get you
on the phone for hours.

I've been up and down, pacing all day.

But I left at least
half a dozen messages.

They haven't delivered a message here

at the Sagamore Almsfor 15 years.

What is it?
Is anything wrong?

The dedication exercises.

For the children's wing.

I've come to fetch you.

You mean I've been invited?

I'm inviting you.

Just look.

Have you ever seen
anything like it?

I don't know what to put where.

So you're letting us bully you
into getting out?

I'm going to visit my sister in California.

I want to taste
a nut burger before I die.

Alicia, you have every reason
to despise me.

All of us. Don't be foolish.

I ran across a photograph
of you and Steven and me.

Can you realize
how long ago it was?

[BAND CONTINUES PLAYING
IN DISTANCE]

[ALICIA SIGHS]

I was talking about him
only the other night.

Will you please put on your coat
and come with me?

A few months ago, yes,

I'd have been to glad to go

and hold up my head
and stare right back.

This is the present
I bought for Agnes Evans.

Remember, I told you
I was looking for one?

I always drop by on her birthday

and leave some gift.

I found a little appointment pad.

With a clasp and a gold pencil
for her dates.

It's really quite a charming thing.

Her mother said she wasn't home

and I'd better just leave it.

She was home, Robert.

I'm tired.

I'm tired and beaten.

There's no use pretending.

There were a few moments
of joy with Steven.

And afterwards,
there was the library

and the children.

I filled my life with them.

And it was a good life
in many ways.

[WHIMPERS]

It wasn't the council
or the whispers.

Or any of the people.

It was the children.

[SOBS]

I think
I could have stood anything,

but losing the children...

[SOBBING]

Having them turn from me.

[CONTINUES SOBBING]

Alicia, now, I'm not going to dedicate

that children's wing
without you.

[BAND CONTINUES PLAYING]

[BAND STOPS PLAYING]

We come now
to a very important moment.

Some months ago, in connection
with library activities,

a children's contest was held

to name a list
of the 10 best books.

When the cornerstone
is put down,

these books
will be sealed in it.

Now I'm going to call on the boy
who won the contest

to come forward
and read off the titles.

Frederick Slater.

[ALL CLAPPING]

Go on.

[INDISTINCT CHATTERING]

Go ahead, Fred.

"The Fairy Tales
of Hans Christian Andersen,

Stories from the Bible..."

I don't know what's happened to Ellerby.

He's supposed to be next.

Do you wanna take his place?

FREDDIE:
"...Treasure Island,

"A Wonder-Book,

David Copperfield..."

MAN 1:
Who is it?

WOMAN 1:
It's Miss Hull.

MAN 2:
What's she doing here?

FREDDIE:
...Robinson Crusoe..."

[INDISTINCT CHATTERING]

WOMAN 2:
Alicia Hull.

WOMAN 3:
Can you imagine
bringing her here.

Disgrace...

[INDISTINCT CHATTERING
CONTINUES]

MAYOR:
Go on, boy. Finish it up.

"The Three Musketeers,"

and the dictionary.

I suspect young Mr. Slater won
because of the dictionary.

All right, boy, just you go on
back there and sit down.

Now we come to the groundbreaking.

I'm glad Judge Ellerby arrived in time

to handle the shovel,

or shall I call a spade a spade.

There's only one person
who should have this honor.

Alicia Hull.

[AUDIENCE
INDISTINCTLY CHATTERING]

[CLAPPING]

Freddie?

How about helping an old friend?

You're not my friend!

Freddie.

You're not anybody's friend.

Freddie.

They kicked you out.

You don't belong here.
They found out about you!

You're right, son, tell her.
Tell her. Tell her again.

You wanna destroy us!

You're like
all the rest of them.

They found out
what you were doing.

Freddie!

You don't belong here!

You're not
the librarian anymore!

You're a communist!

A communist! A communist!
A communist!

Stop it! Stop it! Stop it! Aah!

[INDISTINCT CHATTERING]

[INDISTINCT CHATTERING
CONTINUES]

[♪♪]

[♪♪]

Oh, he's all right.
He's upstairs, in bed.

Yeah, he's sleeping it off.

Yeah, he's okay.

And we sure appreciate your interest,
Miss Lockridge.

Goodbye.

I don't see the point in lying.

What do you wanna do?

Tell her he wouldn't eat,

then he bikes out of here
like a wild man?

Didn't he disgrace us enough?

What did we do?

Did we bring him up wrong?

He's never had a whipping
in his life.

I never laid a hand on that boy.

Are you gonna start
banging that piano?

I don't bang it, I play it.

Or would you know the difference?

Of course not.

I'm not cultured.

No, that's one thing
you'll never be accused of.

Your son won a contest.

You couldn't even be there.

Well, if it had been
a wrestling match,

you would have been
right in the front row.

And spending my time better.

[CHUCKLING]

Contest.

If you wanna know,

I'm stuffed to my gizzard with his library

and your piano!

Stuffed!

Well, maybe that's why
he's the way he is.

Because his own father
resents him.

And resents his mother too.

This little bit of culture.

I give up why he's the way he is,

ad I give up your culture too.

Well, I give up your happy wit.

All those great, big,
stupid wisecracks.

Well, why don't you go out
and look for him?

Don't just stand there.

[♪♪]

Well, did his parents say anything else?

No.

Only that everything's
all right.

Everything's fine.

Look around you.

All the nice normal people

going about their nice, normal business.

You'd better hurry,
you'll be late for your council meeting.

Look, I don't blame you
for being upset.

I'll admit, that was
pretty ugly this afternoon.

Let's not confuse the issue.

That's become your favorite word.

Whatever was the issue?

Do you remember? Well--

A stubborn woman was fired.

Your council blew itself up
with civic virtue.

The city got something to buzz about.

I got a better job.

You got a platform.

You make it sound
like a grab bag--

Well, what do you think it was?

Patriotism?

See you later.

[♪♪]

[SOBBING]

I don't know why you had
to bring her there today.

I thought we'd agreed, to act as a body.

Yes, and a body
is supposed to have a heart.

What are we getting
so steamed up about?

Just because some problem child

decides to throw a fit,
we can't--

You can't really believe that,
do you, Edgar?

He wouldn't have thrown
a fit six months ago.

This couldn't have happened six months ago.

All right,
what do you want us to do?

Give her back the job,
that's what I want you to do.

Make a public apology. Now, wait a minute!

Everybody I listened to lately

seems to be lost in the fog
or something.

Look, we happen to be in a war.

Cold, hot or lukewarm,
that's what it is, war,

and we'd better win it.

We can't take time out
to investigate

every little wrinkle
on every little problem

and be kind to stubborn,
old ladies to boot.

Sure, some innocent people
are going to get hurt.

Well, that's too bad.

Right now that's the way
it's gotta be

unless we all wanna wind up
in the soup.

That's exactly right. That's exactly wrong.

That's communist talk.

That's just the way they do things.

Let the innocent cook with the guilty.

To hell with whom we hurt on the way,

as long as we get where we're going.

Let me tell you something.

I'm not afraid of communism

or of a communist book in the library.

But I am afraid of that kind of talk.

It scares the living life out of me.

There's one thing I forgot, Duncan,

for a while.

I forgot what country I live in.

Where I live, the safety of any one person,

any stubborn old lady,

is the sacred concern
of every decent citizen.

And I hope to God
I never forget that again.

Never again!

[♪♪]

[THUDDING
THEN FREDDIE GROANS]

[SIREN WAILING]

[INDISTINCT CHATTERING]

[ALL SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]

[GLASS BREAKING]

There's a kid in here!

[INDISTINCT CHATTERING]

[SIREN WAILING]

Oh, let me through, please.

I had a bad dream, Mom.

[SIREN WAILING]

Go on.

Tell me again, Paul.

Nothing so terrible has happened.

Only a little boy who was turned
into a lunatic.

And it's not the nice,
normal people who set the fires.

It's the lunatics.

Martha, you better have a drink.

I could use one too.
Let's go up to my place.

You just don't get it, do you?

I don't any more of it,
don't you understand?

I don't wanna be engaged
to a rising young politician.

I'd rather crawl into a hole somewhere.

[♪♪]

Mrs. Hull,
you know about the boy?

It isn't just the boy.

We're all to blame.

I'm to blame too.

I didn't fight back.

I hear you're going away.

I hope you'll change your mind.

You've got to help us
rebuild this library.

Don't leave.

I have no intention of leaving.

I'm going to stay here,

and I'm going to help rebuild this library.

And if anybody ever again tries
to remove a book from it,

he'll have to do it
over my dead body.

[♪♪]