Original subtitles

(theme music playing)

Announcer: ROBERT YOUNG...

AND JANE WYATT.

(laughter)

WITH ELINOR DONAHUE, BILLY GRAY, AND LAUREN CHAPIN...

GOOD MORNING, DEAR. MORNING, DEAR.

BUD UP YET? I CALLED HIM.

(blast, rumbling)

WHAT IN THE WORLD WAS THAT?

I KNOW MY KISSES ARE POWERFUL,

BUT I CAN'T TAKE CREDIT FOR IT.

HERE, THEY STARTED WORK ON THAT NEW HIGHWAY THIS MORNING.

"MAYOR MITCHELL SETS OFF FIRST BLAST ON HIGHWAY."

I PROMISED KATHY WE'D GO DOWN AND WATCH.

SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE PUTTING IT THROUGH OUR BASEMENT.

MOMMY, MOMMY! THEY'VE STARTED ALREADY!

I KNOW, I KNOW.

COME ON, WE'LL MISS EVERYTHING!

THERE'S PLENTY OF TIME. SIT DOWN, EAT YOUR BREAKFAST.

BUT WE WON'T SEE THEM TEAR DOWN THE BUILDING.

OH, YES, WE WILL.

KATHY, THEY PROMISED NOT TO DO ANY SERIOUS BLASTING

UNTIL YOU GET THERE. RIGHT, MARGARET?

RIGHT.

HERE, YOU GO TO WORK ON THIS.

(blast, rumbling)

OOH, THAT WAS A WHOPPER.

WHAT MAKES IT SO LOUD, DADDY?

THAT'S DYNAMITE, KITTEN. IT'S NOISY BUT SURE.

THE BEST WAY TO TEAR ANYTHING DOWN IS TO BLAST.

YOU THINK THEY MIGHT BLAST OUR SCHOOL, DADDY?

I WOULDN'T COUNT ON IT, KITTEN.

BUD, TIME TO GET UP!

WHAT IS DYNAMITE, DADDY?

THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES TO GET YOUR BROTHER UP IN THE MORNING.

ACCORDING TO THIS, MARGARET,

THEY'RE GONNA TEAR OUT A WHOLE BLOCK OF BUILDINGS.

I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA.

THOSE BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN AN EYESORE FOR YEARS.

JIM, GIVE BUD ANOTHER CALL, WILL YOU?

FALL OUT OF THAT BED, BUD!

YOU HAVE TO HAND IT TO THE MAYOR.

HE SAID HE WAS GONNA CLEAN UP SPRINGFIELD.

HE'S CERTAINLY DOING IT. (blast, rumbling)

THAT WAS ANOTHER BIG ONE, DADDY.

I THOUGHT IT WAS THE COFFEE.

VERY FUNNY.

GOSH, DAD.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO SHAKE THE WHOLE HOUSE TO GET ME UP.

I CAN TAKE A HINT.

SEE WHAT I MEAN, KATHY?

THANKS, ALL. FOR WHAT?

FOR GETTING ME UP.

THANK THE MAYOR. WHAT FOR?

FOR GETTING YOU UP.

WHAT'D HE DO?

HE DID WHAT I'VE BEEN THREATENING TO DO FOR YEARS.

GET YOU OUT OF BED WITH DYNAMITE.

HE MUST'VE KNOWN I HAD A CIVICS EXAM THIS MORNING.

WHY, TODAY'S SATURDAY.

IT IS? MM-HMM.

THEN WHY DIDN'T YOU LET ME SLEEP?

OH, HERE, SON. MAYBE THIS WILL WAKE YOU UP.

THANKS, MOM.

THESE SURE ARE BIG EGGS.

TRY SOME SYRUP ON THEM.

NO!

DADDY, WHAT'S A... CIVIC?

YOU MEAN CIVICS.

WHAT ARE CIVICS?

NO, WHAT IS CIVICS.

WELL, WHAT IS THEY?

KATHY, EAT YOUR BREAKFAST.

DON'T YOU KNOW, DADDY?

OF COURSE I KNOW.

IS IT A SECRET?

CIVICS MEANS...

WELL, IT'S FROM THE LATIN WORD CIVICUS,

WHICH MEANS "CITIZEN".

THEN WHAT?

WELL, THE GOVERNMENT IS DIVIDED UP INTO CERTAIN GROUPS...

Bud: MOM, GET ANOTHER STACK READY.

AND THESE GROUPS ARE GROUPED TOGETHER FOR CERTAIN PURPOSES.

I DON'T GET IT.

KATHY, IT'S A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN SO YOU'LL UNDERSTAND.

TRY.

CIVICS IS THAT DEPARTMENT OF POLITIC SCIENCE

DEALING WITH THE RIGHTS OF CITIZENSHIP

AND THE DUTIES OF CITIZENS.

YOU TALK BETTER WHEN YOU'RE ASLEEP

THAN YOU DO WHEN YOU'RE AWAKE.

GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.

SAY, DID YOU HEAR THE DYNAMITE? ISN'T IT UTTERLY EXCITING?

OH, VERY UTTERLY.

IT'S ABOUT TIME THEY GOT RID

OF SOME OF THOSE HORRIBLE OLD BUILDINGS.

THAT'S RIGHT, PRINCESS.

ESPECIALLY THE OLD MEETING HALL.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN, THE OLD MEETING HALL?

IT DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THAT IN THE PAPER.

BILLY TOLD ME. BILLY WHO?

BILLY MITCHELL, THE MAYOR'S SON.

BETTY'S GOT A CRUSH ON HIM.

ON THE MAYOR?

OH, DON'T BE SILLY, BUD.

BETTY, ARE YOU SURE?

I HAVEN'T GOT A CRUSH ON HIM!

HE'S GOT A CRUSH ON ME.

THEN THE MAYOR WAS HERE THIS MORNING.

BUD, BE QUIET. BETTY, ARE YOU SURE

BILLY SAID THE OLD MEETING HALL?

MM-HMM. HIS FATHER SAID THE BUILDING'S SO OLD,

IT'S A WONDER IT HASN'T FALLEN TO PIECES.

OH, HE DID, DID HE?

I SUPPOSE HE'D LIKE TO SEE THE STATUE OF LIBERTY TORN DOWN

BECAUSE IT'S SO OLD.

OR THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL, OR ANY ONE OF...

JIM, CALM DOWN.

IT'S JUST A RICKETY OLD SHACK.

THAT RICKETY OLD SHACK HAPPENS TO BE

ONE OF THE MOST TREASURED BUILDINGS IN THIS TOWN.

IT'S A MEMORIAL... NOT ONLY TO THE PEOPLE OF SPRINGFIELD,

BUT TO THE MANY GREAT MEN WHO'VE STOOD ON ITS STEPS.

EVEN GEORGE WASHINGTON STOPPED THERE ON HIS WAY TO NEW YORK

FOR HIS INAUGURATION IN 1789.

I REMEMBER WHEN THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD

VOTED TO HAVE A PLAQUE PUT THERE

IN MEMORY OF THE OCCASION.

DID YOU SAY GEORGE WASHINGTON, DAD?

THAT'S RIGHT, SON.

FATHER OF OUR COUNTRY? YES, INDEED.

GEE, I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW YOU KNEW HIM.

BUD, GO BACK TO SLEEP.

THEY DIDN'T EVEN HAVE THE DECENCY

TO ASK THE PEOPLE IF THAT'S WHAT WE WANTED.

FATHER, DON'T YOU BELIEVE IN PROGRESS?

OF COURSE I BELIEVE IN PROGRESS.

BUT I ALSO BELIEVE IN SENTIMENT.

I THINK IT'S A CRIME TO DESTROY SOMETHING

THAT REPRESENTS THE TRADITION AND HISTORY, AS THE OLD MEETING HALL DOES.

FURHTERMORE, I WANT TO SEE THAT SOMETHING IS DONE

TO STOP THIS RECKLESSNESS OF OUR CITY OFFICIALS.

I'M GOING TO APPEAL TO THE PEOPLE.

I THINK THEY SHOULD BE WARNED.

PAUL REVERE DID IT IN THE 18th CENTURY.

JIM ANDERSON WILL DO IT IN THE 20th CENTURY.

I'M GOING TO MAKE MYSELF HEARD

IF I HAVE TO GO TO THE MAYOR HIMSELF.

AND I SAY TO YOU, MAYOR MITCHELL,

THAT ANY TIME A PUBLIC SERVANT THINKS HE'S BIGGER THAN THE PEOPLE,

THAT'S THE TIME WE HAVE TO TAKE ACTION.

THAT'S THE TIME WE HAVE TO MAKE OURSELVES HEARD.

THAT'S WHAT I'LL TELL MAYOR MITCHELL IF I EVER MEET UP WITH HIM.

TO THINK I VOTED FOR THAT BUNCH OF INCOMPETENTS AT CITY HALL.

THE CHANGE FROM JUDGE TO MAYOR...

THAT REALLY TURNED MITCHELL'S HEAD. DAD...

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CONCERNS ALL OF US.

AND WE SHOULD ALL DO WHAT WE POSSIBLY CAN

TO STOP THIS CHICANERY OF OUR SO-CALLED CITY OFFICIALS.

AND THIS MEANS YOU AND YOU AND YOU, AND EVEN YOU.

DAD... MARK MY WORDS.

AFTER NEXT ELECTION,

MAYOR MITCHELL WILL BE STANDING ON THE STREET CORNER

WITH A MONKEY AND A HAND ORGAN.

I'M GOING TO WORK NOW, MARGARET.

I'LL SEE YOU AT DINNER.

Bud: DAD.

ALL RIGHT, BUD. WHAT IS IT?

(bang, rumbling)

I, UH, I JUST WANTED TO REMIND YOU...

UH, IT'S SATURDAY. YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO TO WORK.

I'M NOT GOING TO WORK, BUD.

I'M GOING TO MAKE A TOUR OF INSPECTION...

AND CHECK THE AIR RAID SIRENS AND BOMB SHELTERS.

JUST LOOKS LIKE AN OLD BUILDING TO ME.

ME, TOO.

BUT DADDY SAYS HE LOVES IT.

HE LOVES WHAT IT REPRESENTS, KATHY.

IT HOLDS MANY WONDERFUL MEMORIES.

LIKE WHAT?

WELL, YOUR FATHER WENT TO HIS FIRST DANCE HERE.

NO WONDER HE CAN'T FORGET IT.

DID HE TAKE YOU, MOTHER?

NO. BUT HE TOOK ME HOME.

THAT WAS OUR FIRST DATE.

AND WHEN WE GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL,

THEY HELD THE SERVICES HERE.

OH, I'LL NEVER FORGET.

YOUR FATHER HAD BEEN SAVING HIS MONEY FOR A WHOLE YEAR

IN ORDER TO BUY A NEW SUIT.

YOU MEAN HE HAD TO BUY IT HIMSELF?

THAT'S RIGHT. HE WAS SO PROUD OF IT.

AND TWO YEARS LATER, HE PROPOSED TO ME.

I WAS SITTING RIGHT HERE.

DID HE GET DOWN ON HIS KNEES?

(laughs) HE COULDN'T!

HE WAS WEARING THE SAME SUIT.

(laughs)

GEE, I WISH THERE WAS SOMETHING WE COULD DO FOR FATHER.

WELL, WE COULD BUY HIM A NEW SUIT.

I MEAN ABOUT THIS BUILDING, GOON-FACE.

OH.

MAYBE I COULD DO SOMETHING.

WHAT COULD YOU DO, SQUIRT?

IF I JUST SAT RIGHT HERE,

THEY COULDN'T BLOW UP THE BUILDING.

LET'S DON'T TAKE A CHANCE.

COME ON, KATHY. SHALL WE DO OUR SHOPPING?

OKAY.

MOTHER, I HAVE A FEW THINGS TO DO.

I'LL SEE YOU LATER. ALL RIGHT, DEAR.

COMING, BUD? NOT RIGHT NOW.

ALL RIGHT, BUD.

(jackhammer drilling)

(drilling)

AND ANOTHER THING...

HOW DO YOU EXPECT ME TO GET MY WORK DONE AROUND HERE

WHAT THAT SO-CALLED SUPERINTENDENT

KEEPS BOTHERING ME WITH HIS STUPID, RIDICULOUS SUGGESTIONS?!

AND FURTHERMORE...

ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT, I'LL WAIT.

WELL, WHAT DO YOU WANT?

ARE YOU THE FOREMAN OF THIS PROJECT, SIR? I AM.

HOW SOON ARE THEY GONNA PULL DOWN THE OLD MEETING HALL?

TOMORROW, IF MY MEN CAN REMEMBER

THIS AIN'T A TEA PARTY THEY'RE INVITED TO.

ANY OBJECTIONS?

NO, SIR. UH... BUT MY FATHER HAS.

YOU SEE, HE WORE HIS FIRST NEW SUIT ON THOSE STEPS,

AND WENT TO HIS FIRST DANCE THERE.

AND THAT'S HOW HE MET MY MOTHER.

AND, WELL, MY FATHER FEELS...

THAT YOU SHOULDN'T TEAR DOWN THE BUILDING.

LOOK, YOU TELL YOUR FATHER

THAT IF HE WANTS TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, TO COME AND SEE ME.

GEE, BETTY, IT'S AWFULLY NICE OF YOU

TO BUY ME A MALTED MILK.

GLAD TO DO IT, BILLY.

BY THE WAY, HOW'S YOUR FATHER?

WHO? YOUR FATHER.

OH, HIM. SINCE HE'S BEEN MAYOR, I DON'T SEE MUCH OF HIM.

OH.

DO YOU SEE MUCH OF YOUR FATHER?

OH, DEFINITELY. WE HEAR HIM A GREAT DEAL, TOO.

PARTICULARLY WHEN YOUR FATHER SPENDS ALL OF HIS TIME

GOING AROUND TEARING DOWN BUILDINGS,

DESTROYING PEOPLE'S MEMORIES,

UPSETTING TRADITION

AND SACRIFICING SENTIMENT FOR PROGRESS.

NO WONDER HE'S BUSY.

BILLY, DO YOU THINK MAYBE YOU COULD TALK TO HIM?

MAYBE YOU COULD PERSUADE HIM

THAT HE SHOULDN'T TEAR DOWN THE OLD MEETING HALL

JUST TO PUT IN A NEW STREET.

HOW CAN I DO IT IF I NEVER SEE HIM?

YOU CAN DO IT.

BESIDES, I'M BUYING THE MALTS.

ARE YOU TRYING TO BRIBE ME?

SORT OF.

NO, I CAN'T. IT WOULDN'T BE ETHICAL.

IS THAT YOUR FINAL ANSWER?

YES.

ALL RIGHT, THEN, AS LONG AS YOU'RE BEING SO ETHICAL,

YOU CAN PAY FOR THESE MALTS YOURSELF!

I BOUGHT SOME STEAK FOR DINNER.

THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH YOUR FATHER

THAT A GOOD MEAL WON'T CURE.

HI.

WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU?

I'M JUST WORRIED ABOUT FATHER, THAT'S ALL.

WELL, YOU LOOK LIKE BOOKENDS.

YOU DON'T THINK FATHER WOULD DO ANYTHING DESPERATE, DO YOU?

LIKE WHAT?

MAYBE HE'S SUFFERING SO MUCH, HE WON'T COME HOME.

OH, HE'LL COME HOME.

JOE PHILLIPS HAD AN UNCLE THAT DIDN'T COME HOME ONE NIGHT.

IT WAS HIS WIFE'S BIRTHDAY, TOO.

HE STOPPED IN TO BUY HER A BOX OF CANDY,

AND THE CANDY STORE WAS RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO A TRAVEL AGENCY.

THEY NEVER HEARD FROM HIM AGAIN.

I THINK MAYBE YOU'D BETTER GO OUT

AND GET THAT STEPLADDER AND PAIL AWAY FROM THE FRONT DOOR

BEFORE YOUR FATHER FALLS OVER IT, OR WE'LL NEVER SEE YOU AGAIN.

(thud)

GOOD HEAVENS!

JIM, ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?

OF COURSE, DEAR. JUST KNOCKED THE LADDER OVER, THAT'S ALL.

GOSH, DAD, I'M SORRY. THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

HE WAS CLEANING UP THE PLASTER.

YEAH, I WANTED TO SURPRISE YOU.

YOU CERTAINLY DID. THANKS, SON.

WAIT TILL YOU HEAR THE SURPRISE I HAVE FOR ALL OF YOU.

WHAT IS IT, JIM?

YOU REMEMBER THAT SMALL DISCUSSION

WE HAD THIS MORNING ABOUT THE OLD MEETING HALL?

SMALL? YOU PRACTICALLY MADE MORE NOISE THAN THE DYNAMITE.

WHAT ABOUT IT, FATHER?

(chuckles) I DON'T LIKE TO BRAG,

BUT I HAVE A FEELING THAT SOME OF THAT NOISE REACHED CITY HALL,

BECAUSE MAYOR MITCHELL HAS ASKED TO SEE ME TOMORROW MORNING.

JIM, HOW WONDERFUL.

DADDY! SHH. YOUR FATHER'S TALKING.

SOMEHOW THE WORD MUST'VE GOTTEN TO HIM

THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE UNHAPPY WITH THIS PROJECT.

WELL, DAD, I DID A LITTLE CAMPAIGNING MYSELF.

I DID, TOO, FATHER.

DADDY! SHH.

HE CALLED MY SECRETARY JUST A LITTLE WHILE AGO.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, I TRIED TO DO MY BIT, TOO.

I TALKED TO SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE P.T.A.

THAT'S NICE, MARGARET.

DADDY, I HELPED THE MOST.

WELL, WHAT DID YOU DO, KITTEN?

I WROTE A LETTER TO THE MAYOR.

ALL BY YOURSELF? UH-HUH.

HOW ABOUT THAT, MARGARET? SHE WROTE A LETTER.

I HAD A HARD TIME REMEMBERING EVERYTHING YOU SAID,

BUT I GOT THE PART IN ABOUT THE MONKEY AND THE HAND ORGAN.

YOU DON'T SAY? (laughs)

YOU... WHAT?

I HAD TO LOOK UP HOW TO SPELL "GRAFTER".

I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE ANYTHING OUT.

KATHY! YOU WROTE A LETTER TO THE MAYOR?

UH-HUH.

AND YOU QUOTED ME? UH-HUH.

WORD FOR WORD.

NO WONDER HE WANTS TO SEE ME.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S NOT PANIC.

AFTER ALL, KATHY DID IT BECAUSE SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS HELPING ME.

DIDN'T YOU, KATHY?

I WAS BEING A GOOD CIVICS.

YEAH. (laughs)

AFTER ALL, THE MAYOR IS A SMART MAN.

HE'S NOT GONNA PAY ANY ATTENTION

TO A LETTER WRITTEN BY A LITTLE GIRL. (laughs)

THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT, DADDY,

SO I SIGNED YOUR NAME.

OH, JIM, I THINK YOU'RE MAKING A VERY BIG MOUNTAIN

OUT OF A VERY SMALL ANTHILL.

THERE'S NOTHING SMALL ABOUT GOING TO JAIL.

ARE YOU GOING TO JAIL, DAD? IT'S VERY POSSIBLE.

WRITING A LETTER LIKE THAT TO THE MAYOR IS A SERIOUS OFFENSE.

BUT, DADDY... PLEASE, KATHY!

ALL YOU HAVE TO IS TO GO TO MAYOR MITCHELL AND EXPLAIN.

WHAT MAKES YOU THINK HE'LL EVEN GIVE ME A CHANCE TO EXPLAIN?

HEY, MAYBE BILLY MITCHELL COULD DO SOMETHING.

HE'S NOT TALKING TO ME. I MADE HIM PAY FOR THE MALTS.

JUST TELL HIM THAT YOUR YOUNGEST DAUGHTER WROTE THE LETTER.

THEN HE'LL ASK WHERE SHE PICKED UP THE IDEA.

THE MAYOR ISN'T A STUPID MAN.

I THOUGHT YOU SAID HE WAS.

HE KNOWS THAT CHILDREN DON'T HAVE POLITICAL OPINIONS

THEY'RE LIKE PARROTS. THEY REPEAT WHATEVER THEY HEAR.

DADDY... KATHY, DON'T PESTER ME.

BUT, DADDY, YOU SAID... I KNOW WHAT I SAID!

KATHY, GO... PLAY OR SOMETHING.

I'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT SOME WAY TO GET OUT OF THIS MESS,

AND YOU'RE NOT HELPING ANY.

JIM, DON'T YOU THINK YOU'RE BEING A LITTLE TOO HARD ON HER?

AFTER ALL, SHE'S STILL A BABY.

SHE'S OLD ENOUGH TO WRITE A LETTER.

GEE, DAD, I GOT AN IDEA. YES?

WHY COULDN'T YOU SAY THE LETTER WAS A FORGERY?

WHO FORGED IT?

OH.

IF I JUST KNEW ALL SHE SAID IN THAT LETTER.

THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY TO FIND OUT.

ASK THE AUTHOR.

DAD, THE MAYOR WOULD KNOW WHAT WAS IN IT. WHY NOT ASK HIM?

BUD, I'M GONNA HAVE TO FACE HIM SOON ENOUGH.

WHERE DID LITTLE MISS FIX-IT GO?

UPSTAIRS. UPSTAIRS.

CAN'T DO NOTHIN' RIGHT AROUND HERE.

NOBODY LOVES ME. EVERYBODY HATES ME.

OH, KATHY, THINK.

YOU MUST BE ABLE TO REMEMBER WHAT YOU WROTE IN THAT LETTER.

I TOLD YOU... EVERYTHING YOU SAID.

BUT I SAID A LOT OF THINGS.

IT WAS A LONG LETTER.

EXCUSE ME, PLEASE.

LEAVING FOR GOOD, IS THAT RIGHT?

UH-HUH.

ARE YOU GOING TO WRITE SOMETIMES?

I DON'T KNOW.

YOU'RE PRETTY GOOD AT WRITING LETTERS.

I'LL CARRY THAT FOR YOU.

DADDY!

YES, KITTEN?

I WAS JUST TRYING TO HELP.

I KNOW YOU WERE, HONEY.

BUT WRITING UNKIND REMARKS IN A LETTER

ISN'T GOING TO HELP ANYBODY.

IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU WANT TO SAY TO SOMEBODY,

TELL THEM TO THEIR FACE.

BUT YOU DIDN'T TELL THE MAYOR THIS MORNING

WHAT YOU THOUGHT.

WELL, THAT'S DIFFERENT, KATHY.

WHAT'S SAID AT HOME, IN THE PRESENCE OF ONE'S OWN FAMILY...

THAT SHOULD BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL.

THEN I SHOULDN'T HAVE TOLD THE MAYOR

THAT YOU SAID HE WAS A CROOK.

KATHLEEN LOUISE ANDERSON, I SAID A LOT OF THINGS THIS MORNING,

BUT I DID NOT SAY HE WAS A CROOK.

I KNOW YOU DIDN'T. THAT WAS MY IDEA.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

I THINK I'D BETTER PACK.

SHE DIDN'T LEAVE ANYTHING OUT.

IT SEEMS I ALSO CALLED HIM A CROOK.

OH, DEAR. OH, FINE.

DAD, I WAS JUST THINKING.

IF YOU GO TO JAIL,

THAT MEANS I'LL BE HEAD OF THE HOUSE, DOESN'T IT?

Margaret: BUD.

HOW LONG DO YOU THINK YOU'LL BE IN FOR?

FOR LIFE AT LEAST. LIFE?

NOW, DON'T TAKE IT TOO HARD, SON.

I'LL MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO SEE THAT YOU GET YOUR ALLOWANCE.

GOSH, DAD, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT.

WELL, FOR ONCE, MONEY ISN'T THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN LIFE.

I CAN SEE YOU ON VISITING DAYS

AND PICK UP MY ALLOWANCE AT THE SAME TIME.

BUD, YOUR FATHER'S NOT GOING TO JAIL. OH.

WELL, I'M NOT GONNA WIN A MEDAL OF HONOR, EITHER.

OH, THE MAYOR'S NOT GONNA GET ANGRY OVER A LITTLE GIRL'S LETTER.

HE'S PROBABLY LAUGHING ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW.

I'LL BE HE'S LAUGHING. HE'S LAUGHING SO HARD

HE PROBABLY CAN'T MAKE UP HIS MIND WHETHER TO HANG ME

OR SEND ME UP BEFORE THE FIRING SQUAD.

(whispers) THIS IS PERFECTLY RIDICULOUS, MARGARET.

THERE WAS NO NEED FOR ALL OF YOU TO BE HERE.

YOU'RE RIGHT, DADDY. I THINK I'LL GO.

YOU ARE THE ONE PERSON WHO BELONGS HERE.

YOU MIGHT NEED US TO HELP EXPLAIN, JIM.

AFTER ALL, WE'RE YOUR FAMILY.

UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL.

I FEEL LIKE I'M GOING TO BE EXECUTED.

SINCE WHEN IS "CROOK" SPELLED WITH TWO Ks?

I SHOULD'VE HAD YOU LOOK IT OVER, DADDY.

YOU CERTAINLY SHOULD HAVE.

MAYOR MITCHELL, I'D LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS.

IF I MAY SAY SO, JIM ANDERSON,

YOU'VE ALREADY SAID QUITE A FEW WORDS,

SUCH AS... I'M A CROOK.

I SHOULD BE STANDING ON A STREET CORNER

WITH A MONKEY AND A HAND ORGAN.

I... I'M... "INCOMPELENT".

KATHY, THE WORD IS "INCOMPETENT".

HE KNOWS WHAT I MEANT, MOMMY.

OH, SO YOU'RE THE LITERARY GENIUS OF THE FAMILY.

IT'S NOTHING.

I WAS REASONABLY SURE THAT YOUR FATHER DIDN'T WRITE THIS LETTER.

HE JUST MADE SUGGESTIONS. KATHY!

Mayor: WELL, THAT'S OBVIOUS.

FOR EXAMPLE, I'M ALSO A...

UH, STARTS WITH A "GR"?

GRAFTER? GRAFTER, THANK YOU.

I WISH YOU'D LET ME EXPLAIN.

YOU'LL HAVE TIME LATER.

FIRST, I HAVE A FEW THINGS THAT I WANT TO SAY.

SO, I'M A GRAFTER. I'M INCOMPETENT.

BUT LET ME TELL YOU THIS. THERE IS ONLY ONE THING

THAT MAKES PUBLIC OFFICIALS GRAFTERS AND INCOMPETENT,

AND THAT'S AN INCOMPETENT GROUP OF CITIZENS.

PEOPLE USUALLY GET THE KIND OF GOVERNMENT THAT THEY DESERVE.

WE'RE TRYING TO DO A JOB THE BEST THAT WE CAN.

BUT IT'S UP TO YOU TO SEE THAT WE DO IT.

WE'RE NOT MINDREADERS.

AND WHEN WE GET OFF ON THE WRONG FOOT, TELL US.

NOT THE NEWSBOY ON THE CORNER.

AND YOU, MRS. ANDERSON.

YOU CALLED PRACTICALLY EVERY MEMBER OF THE P.T.A.

AND COMPLAINED ABOUT THE NEW STREET.

MARGARET, YOU DID? I DID.

AND YOU, BUD. YES, SIR?

WHAT GOOD DO YOU THINK

THE FOREMAN OF THE CONSTRUCTION JOB COULD DO?

HOW'D YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT?

HE'S MY BROTHER-IN-LAW.

I THINK THIS WHOLE SITUATION IS RIDICULOUS.

OH, OF COURSE KATHY HAD NO BUSINESS WRITING SUCH A LETTER.

BUT CHILDREN HEAR THINGS,

AND, WELL, OFTEN THEY TAKE A SITUATION AND DRAMATIZE IT

UNTIL IT'S COMPLETELY UNRECOGNIZABLE.

WE APOLOGIZE.

ALL OF US. WE'RE VERY SORRY IT HAPPENED.

KATHY, SAY YOU'RE SORRY TO THE MAN.

I'M SORRY, MAYOR MITCHELL... HONEST.

WELL...

YOU CAN'T HELP IT BECAUSE YOU'RE A CROOK, I GUESS.

KATHY!

YOU TOLD ME TO TELL HIM TO HIS FACE!

I... I... I THINK WE'RE JUST TAKING UP YOUR TIME, MAYOR MITCHELL.

I'LL COME BACK AND CLARIFY THIS MATTER.

OH, WAIT A MINUTE, JIM.

IN ALL FAIRNESS TO YOU,

I THINK YOU SHOULD KNOW OF THE FEW OTHER THINGS

THAT WERE INCLUDED IN KATHY'S LETTER.

YOU MEAN THERE'S MORE? THERE'S MORE.

OUTSIDE OF THE MISERABLE SPELLING,

AND THE ATROCIOUS PUNCTUATION,

AND THE WEIRDEST GRAMMAR THAT I'VE EVER ENCOUNTERED,

THERE WAS ONE SUGGESTION THAT WAS REALLY MAKING SENSE.

IT REFLECTED ADULT THINKING.

OBVIOUSLY KATHY PICKED THAT UP FROM YOU, TOO.

THAT'S THE SUGGESTIONS THAT THE MEETING HALL BE MOVED A FEW BLOCKS.

A SMALL PARK COULD BE BUILT AROUND IT,

AND THEN IT'D BECOME A MONUMENT TO SPRINGFIELD HISTORY.

AND, AS I MIGHT ADD, IT TOOK A COUPLE OF HOURS

TO DECIPHER THAT FROM HER LETTER.

I TOLD YOU, DADDY. I PUT EVERYTHING IN.

Mayor: THAT WAS YOUR SUGGESTION, WASN'T IT, MR. ANDERSON?

THAT'S RIGHT.

I'VE ALWAYS FELT THAT SPRINGFIELD COULD USE A PARK.

I'VE ALREADY TALKED WITH THE CITY COUNCIL,

AND THEY HAVE AGREED THAT THE IDEAS ARE NOT ONLY LOGICAL,

BUT EXTREMELY HELPFUL.

OH. WELL...

YOU REALIZE, OF COURSE, THAT THIS IS A BIG JOB.

FIRST, GETTING THE PEOPLE TO AGREE TO THE BOND ISSUE TO FINANCE IT.

IT'S WORTH IT, HOWEVER.

THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE

IN A FEW MINUTES.

SOMEBODY WILL HAVE TO BE APPOINTED

AND PUT IN CHARGE OF IT...

AND SOMEBODY THAT'S WILLING TO WORK HARD, MANY EVENINGS.

WELL, ANYONE WHO'S A GOOD CITIZEN

SHOULD BE WILLING TO TAKE ON THE JOB.

WELL, WE'LL SEE.

AS THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE, UH,

CITIZENS' COMMITTEE TO COME IN, PLEASE.

YES, SIR.

AH, MR. LITTLE.

WOULD YOU MIND EXPLAINING THE PLAN AGAIN?

I'D LIKE TO HAVE MR. ANDERSON HEAR IT.

NOT AT ALL, MAYOR MITCHELL.

AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CITIZENS' GROUP,

WE HAVE DECIDED THAT WHAT SPRINGFIELD NEEDS

IS SOMEONE WHO WILL ALWAYS HAVE THE GOOD OF OUR CITY AT HEART,

SOMEONE WHO IS WILLING TO UNSELFISHLY DEVOTE TIME AND ENERGY,

IN ADDITION TO HIS REGULAR JOB.

SOMEONE WHO WILL GET THE MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE.

YOU MEAN A SORT OF MODERN PAUL REVERE?

THAT'S RIGHT. YEAH.

WELL, JIM, DO YOU THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA?

UH... YES.

DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTION

AS TO WHO THE LOYAL, ENERGETIC MAN SHOULD BE?

WELL, I SHOULD IMAGINE SOMEONE ON THE CITY COUNCIL

WOULD FIT THE JOB.

MR. MATTHEWS, MR. BROWN, OR... MR. LITTLE?

MR. LITTLE, WHOM DID WE DECIDE UPON THIS MORNING?

IT IS OUR PRIVILEGE TO APPOINT MR. JAMES ANDERSON

AS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PEOPLE OF SPRINGFIELD.

BUT... CONGRATULATIONS, JIM.

NOW THINGS WILL BE DONE RIGHT.

YES, SIR.

MAYOR MITCHELL. YES.

HERE'S A SPECIAL DELIVERY LETTER THAT JUST ARRIVED.

IT'S FROM YOUR SON REGARDING THE OLD MEETING HALL.

HE SAID HE HADN'T BEEN ABLE TO SEE YOU LONG ENOUGH TO TALK TO YOU,

SO HE DECIDED TO WRITE A LETTER.

COULD YOU TELL MY SON THAT HE CAN HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH ME

TONIGHT AT 7:00 FOR DINNER?

AND A SHOW. OH, YES, SIR.

WELL, YOUNG LADY?

HAS THIS TAUGHT YOU A LESSON?

YES, SIR. I'D BETTER LEARN HOW TO SPELL.

(Mayor laughs)

THAT'S RIGHT, ED. THURSDAY NIGHT, 8:00... BOARD MEETING.

I KNOW IT'S POKER NIGHT, BUT IT CAN'T BE HELPED.

WE'VE GOT TO GET THE BALL ROLLING ON THE BOND ISSUE

FOR THIS NEW PARK.

OKAY.

I SURE DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS SO MUCH TROUBLE

JUST GETTING A NEW PARK.

I HOPE THE MAYOR'S HAPPY. I'VE BEEN WORKING EVERY NIGHT THIS WEEK ON IT.

UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, I THINK THE MAYOR'S BEEN VERY NICE, JIM.

WHY NOT? ELECTIONS AREN'T FAR OFF.

I THINK HE'S VERY SWEET.

HE TOLD BILLY TO ASK ME OVER FOR DINNER SOMETIME.

WHY NOT? HE KNOWS YOU'LL BE OF VOTING AGE IN FOUR YEARS.

OH, JIM.

HEY, WHAT'S HAPPENED TO KATHY?

YEAH, WHERE IS LITTLE POISON-PEN LIZZY?

SHE HAD TO GO DOWN TO THE CORNER. WHAT FOR?

SHE HAD TO MAIL A LETTER...

TO THE PRESIDENT.

(theme music playing)