Original subtitles

Hello, there.

My name is Lincoln Maazel.

On my next birthday, I'll be 71 years of age.

I am an actor. I'm working.

I have a family.

Despite the many problems and frustrations

of the world as it is today,

no one will deny that there is still a basic fulfillment

which is drawn from living, being active, and contributing.

There is a joy to life available to those

who can interact with nature, with their fellow man.

Unfortunately, this interaction is denied to many groups,

for many reasons...

Levels of income,

environmental deprivation, geographical accident.

Perhaps the saddest cause of denial and rejection

is, very simply, old age.

Man lives his mature life with hope.

He looks forward to the day

when he can reap the benefits of his experience,

his earnings, and his wisdom.

And yet, he often finds he is not regarded

as a productive member of his society.

And if he doesn't have a reputation

and doesn't have financial substance,

the situation is a hundred times worse.

Some of the many problems of aging are loneliness,

failing health, inadequate transportation,

inadequate medical care, inadequate housing,

lack of money, improper nutrition,

and perhaps most acute,

the lack of compassion and supportive services

from the younger members of our society.

The oldest citizens of the world

represent a much misused natural resource.

The wasting of this great resource is a worldwide tragedy,

but this can be corrected by people.

People who can be made aware.

People who can care and who can respond to the need.

Oh, you've heard the statistics,

and you've been preached to about the problem.

You've seen news reports and documentary material

dealing with the plight of the elderly.

We will not repeat what you have heard.

The amusement park which you are about to visit

illustrates some of the many problems

people of my age face on a daily basis.

We intend for you to feel the problem, to experience it,

and we ask for your sympathy as you watch.

And when the film ends, we hope you will have

the concerned interest to take action.

The supporting players of this film are not actors.

They are volunteers, many of whom are actively involved

in services to the elderly.

The older people in the film are also volunteers,

who are either concerned enough to give us of their time

or who, in real life, are living in institutions,

in lower-income housing areas, or in city slums.

The time spent in shooting at West View Park,

which facility was donated to the production,

was, for some of the elderly players,

the only enjoyable time they have had in recent years.

Remember, as you watch the film, one day you will be old.

[ Clock ticking, heart beating ]

[ Ride whirring, people screaming ]

[ Ride whirring ]

[ Ticking and beating continues ]

[ Clock chimes ]

[ Ticking continues ]

[ Ride whirring ]

[ People screaming, ride whirring ]

[ Ominous music plays ]

[ Door opens ]

Hello?

I say, hello, there.

Don't you care to talk?

No.

Uh, tell me, um...

would you like to do something?

No.

Do you, um...

Do you ever go outside?

Uh.. No.

Don't you want to ever go outside?

There... There...

There's nothing.

Nothing out... outside.

[ Sighs ]

Well, I'm going outside anyway.

You... You won't...

You won't like...

You won't like it.

Well, I'll see for myself, if you don't mind.

- Goodbye. - There... There...

There's nothing outside.

Nothing.

[ Indistinct conversations, carnival music playing ]

[ Man speaking indistinctly on P.A ]

Nothing.

[ Woman vocalizing ]

[ Carnival music playing ]

MAN: Hey! What do you say? Tickets for her?

TICKET MAN: Cash! That's what I like to see.

Cash. Here you are.

I can't give you more than $5 for it.

Oh, no. They're worth more than that.

TICKET MAN: No, I'm afraid not, ma'am.

They may have sentimental value to me,

but they're worth $5 to me, and that's it.

- Take it or leave it. - WOMAN: All right, then.

- I'll take it. - Here you go.

- Who's next? - The next one is here.

This is silver.

All right, let me take a look at it.

MAN: That's pure silver.

I can't give you more than $5.

Oh, man! What you talking about? Listen.

TICKET MAN: $5. Take it or leave it.

MAN: You ain't looked at the thing right.

TICKET MAN: I've examined it very thoroughly.

Well, come on, come on. I'll take it,

- but you're beating me now. - There you are.

MAN #2: Look at this clock. It's a nice clock.

[ Clock ticking ]

- How much you give me for it? - It's broke.

I'll give you a buck.

No, you can't. $15.

A buck. Take a buck. That's it.

I'm sorry. It's broke.

Who's next? Yes, sir?

- I'd like to get some tickets. - Okay, fine.

Cash. That's what I like to see.

How much do you have to spend?

Well, um, I...

Time is money. Let's come on, now.

I'm on a budget, you see,

and I have to be very careful.

- How much do you want to spend? - Well, I...

Just a minute, folks. I'll be with you in a second.

- I can afford about half. - Half? All right.

And this is going to be for an emergency.

Sure, okay. That's okay with me.

- Sure, okay. Here you go. - Thank you very much, sir.

WOMAN: He gave a lot of tickets to that old man.

Who's next? Step right up.

Okay, it's fine.

- Oh! - Oh!

Why don't you watch where you're going?

I'm terribly sorry.

I'm terribly sorry. [-I...

I...

MAN: Okay, step right across.

Here, that's fine. Go ahead. Here.

One more. Watch your step there. Watch your step.

Two. I'll take two more here.

Hurry up. You're gonna miss the car.

Okay, good.

Sorry, ma'am. You're not allowed.

Read the sign there.

Let's go. Come on. Next, next.

You'll pass, I guess. Easy, easy, easy.

- Here. - MAN #2: Here's mine.

MAN #1: Fine, fine.

I'm sorry, ma'am. You can't get on.

- WOMAN: Please, please. - MAN #1: Read the sign.

Just read the sign.

MAN #3: How come we can't get on?

- Maybe next year. - How come we can't get on?

MAN #1: Go right through there.

MAN #3: How come we can't get on?

MAN: We're going down! We're going down!

- MAN #2: What do you mean? - MAN #1: We keep going downhill.

MAN #2: No, we're going up! We're going up!

[ Riders screaming ]

[ Up-tempo music plays ]

[ Riders screaming ]

[ Riders screaming ]

[ Man speaking indistinctly on P.A ]

[ Bell clanging ]

[ Horn honks ]

- All aboard! - [ Bell clanging ]

All aboard!

[ Horn blaring ]

[ Horn blaring ]

[ Brakes squealing ]

[ Laughter, indistinct conversations ]

[ Conversations continue ]

[ Laughter ]

[ Speaking indistinctly ]

[ Engine sputtering ]

[ Engine starts, revs ]

[ Carnival music playing, man speaking indistinctly on P.A. ]

Read the chart. Start at the top, work your way down.

E, F...

C.

Z.

D

WOMAN: It's all right. You be calm, Harry. Take it easy.

T.

Okay, ma'am, you're okay, but, sir,

you're gonna have to be a passenger from now on.

Cannot renew your license with those eyes.

MAN: Beautiful young lady...

but has the body of a spider.

MAN #2: Hurry, hurry, hurry!

All right.

[ Tires screeching ]

[ Crash]

Did you see where you're going? For crying out loud!

If there's anything stupider than a woman driver,

- it's an old woman driver. - What do you mean?

You made left-hand turn with a right-hand signal.

MAN: How old are you?

Well, if it's any of your business, I'm 67.

MAN: If that's true, you shouldn't even be allowed

- on the road. - Wrecked my car.

Anybody over 65 should be made to ride the bus.

What do you mean? Don't you know your left hand

from your right hand?

Ho, ho, ho, ho.

Wait. One minute. What happened?

- MAN: She hit me from behind. - WOMAN: For goodness' sake.

He doesn't know his left hand from his right.

OFFICER: Your driver's license, please.

MAN: She hit me from behind. Now, isn't it true

that when somebody hits you from behind, it's their fault?

Okay, listen. That's why I'm here.

Since I'm so old, you better have

a little more respect for me. That's what I say.

There's no sense arguing about it.

I'll make the report of what I see.

- Oh! Here's our insurance man. - MAN: You can see the damage.

You know how much something like this costs.

We're here to represent our client.

WOMAN: A kid in kindergarten knows left and right hand.

Officer, excuse me, please, but I was driving coming this way,

and I saw the accident.

This man actually made a left-hand signal

and made a right turn. I saw him do that.

- MAN: Aw, come on! - He's in the wrong.

Well, sir, all I can tell you is the same thing

I told them... Since I didn't see the accident,

I'll be glad to put down what you said and your name

and address, and the insurance companies will contact you.

Can I see your driver's license, please?

AGENT: I would guess that our company's gonna require

a slight adjustment in the rate.

Good grief, man. We can hardly afford it now.

The rates are high enough.

Don't you worry, Harry.

We're not gonna have any rate increase

'cause this was not our fault.

According to your license,

you're supposed to be wearing eyeglasses.

- Oh, yes, well... - OFFICER: Do you...

- ll-I have them. - MAN: Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

- WOMAN: Oh, what? - MAN: Blind man.

Blind man says he saw the accident.

WOMAN: Oh, my goodness, Harry.

MAN: I'd like to see this hold up in court.

WOMAN: He didn't have his glasses on.

MAN: How could he be a witness to anything?

I'm telling you, I made a signal.

She smashed into me from behind. That's all there is to it.

WOMAN: You made a signal, all right.

MAN: It's clearly your fault. Look at this damage.

Going to have to have a new paint job.

OFFICER: Look, I'm gonna tell you something.

I've had about enough of both of you arguing.

I'm not gonna tell you again.

MAN: I got my own insurance man.

I'll take care of this myself.

[ Carnival music plays ]

[ Down-tempo music plays ]

[ Up-tempo music plays ]

[ Snaps fingers ]

[ Snapping fingers ]

[ Cash register dings ]

[ No audio]

[ Cash register dings ]

[ Glass clatters ]

[ Cork pops ]

[ Plate thuds ]

MAN: Hurry, hurry, hurry!

[ Ominous music plays ]

[ Indistinct shouting ]

[ Carnival music plays ]

[ No audio]

[ Woman laughs ]

[ Carnival music plays ]

MAN: Hey! What do you say?

[ No audio]

Hey, you! What are you... Some kind of a degenerate?

What are you doing with those kids?

I'll give you about two seconds to get out of here!

[ Ride whirring ]

MAN IN DISTANCE: Hurry, hurry, hurry!

All right.

WOMAN: You'll enjoy it. Right this way.

[ Indistinct conversations ]

MAN: ...you always wanted to see.

WOMAN #2: Right this way.

[ Indistinct conversations ]

Right this way.

- MAN #2: Keep on going. - MAN #3: You'll enjoy this.

You'll enjoy. You'll enjoy this.

WOMAN #3: Oh, no, it's fun. You'll like it.

I'm not sure that I want to go in here.

WOMAN #3: You'll really like it.

[ Clock ticking, heart beating ]

[ Distorted music plays ]

MAN: What's the matter with you?

[ Indistinct conversations ]

Leave me alone, fellas. Just leave me alone.

- No, no. - MAN: Get back in there.

MAN #2: You're supposed to have fun in there.

- You can have fun. - MAN #3: Hey, come here.

[ Ominous music plays ]

[ Indistinct conversations ]

MAN: Don't you want one?

0,2, and 7.

It's 27.

[ Man laughing ]

[ Carnival music plays ]

[ Ominous music plays ]

[ Woman vocalizing ]

[ Carnival music plays ]

FORTUNE-TELLER: Ah, two young lovers.

You want your fortune told.

We want to see what our life is gonna be like.

- What part of life? - When we get old.

Are you sure?

Yeah, we want to know if we're still going to be together.

Well, there are conditions.

You must see it all. Is that agreed?

- Yeah. - You must see it all.

- All the way to the end. - Sure.

Look into the future then.

Into the magic ball.

Into the future.

Into the future. Into the future.

I'm Alan Ross with Mr. John Wilson,

the landlord here who owns the building.

Mr. Wilson, why haven't you made any repairs to this building?

It's in deplorable condition.

Well, sir, do you realize the kind of taxes

that we have to pay here?

ALAN: But aren't the conditions here unsafe

for the people who pay you rent, good money?

JOHN: Well, actually the rent that I get is no more than

about $10 a week from these people.

And with that kind of money, do you expect me to make

any more improvements than what we have already?

ALAN: If you can't make the repairs yourself, Mr. Wilson,

then why don't you sell this property

and let someone else make them?

JOHN: We tried desperately to do that,

but who will buy it? Would you, sir?

Would you consider buying this property?

ALAN: I'm asking the question of you, Mr. Wilson.

You tell me why you can't sell it.

JOHN: Not too many people today would take the chance

of buying this kind of property

knowing the circumstances and the conditions here.

ALAN: Seems the condition is you haven't made any improvements.

You're telling me you don't have the money.

What about the condition inside? Don't you have an obligation

to your tenants to make these repairs and make them now?

JOHN: We have made some repairs,

but unfortunately they're the type of people

that just will not take care of themselves,

nor the place that they're living in.

[ Horn honking, clanking ]

[ Horns blaring ]

[ Sirens wailing ]

- [ Telephone rings ] - I should have a test taken.

You look better than my mother looked.

You look wonderful.

[ Ringing ]

Oh, hello, there.

Dr. Jones, my husband is so bad.

I can't talk to him. He won't answer me.

He doesn't take his medicine.

I'd love to talk for a longer period of time.

You're too busy to come.

Goodbye.

[ Eerie music plays ]

[ Carnival music playing ]

[ Indistinct conversations ]

MAN: Could you explain to our audience

if someone in this building is burned to death tonight

or be injured in a fall down these decrepit stairways,

how would you explain it?

Sir, I sincerely hope that never happens.

[ Eerie music plays ]

[ Ticking ]

[ Siren wailing ]

[ Horn honks ]

[ Telephone rings ]

I'm sorry.

I can't understand.

I can't get him to even recognize me.

[ Indistinct shouting ]

Why can't you come to see my husband?

We've always been good patients.

As poor as we are, we've always paid our bill.

Why are you punishing me like this?

For heaven's sake, didn't you take an oath

when you studied medicine that you would be kind to people?

Isn't that one of the things a doctor's supposed to do?

What kind of a man are you?

I want you to come here. Would you, please?

[ Indistinct talking ]

Doctor, I have a ringing in my ear.

[ Indistinct talking ]

Well, then God help you

if you have to have this on your conscience!

[ Drums playing ]

Mister, please, mister.

Oh, my God, mister, please.

Can you give me a dime? I have to make a telephone call.

Oh, why are people so mean?

Why can't anybody help me?

[ Drums continue ]

[ Chuckles ]

[ Carnival music playing ]

[ Indistinct conversations ]

[ Music, conversations continue ]

[ Music, conversations fade ]

[ Music, conversations stop ]

[ Wind whistling ]

[ Bell tolls ]

[ Engines revving ]

Aah!

[ Shouting ]

MAN: Tickets, man. Dig, dig, dig.

Tickets, tickets.

Tickets, tickets, man.

No, no, come here, man.

[ Crying ]

MAN: Go through his pockets, go through his pockets.

What do you got, what do you got?

Hey, give me... give me some of those tickets.

His tickets, man. Tickets.

Give me.

Give me some of that.

Dude. Wow!

[ Indistinct talking ]

[ Engines start ]

[ Indistinct conversations ]

[ Carnival music playing ]

- WOMAN: Your name, sir? - I...

WOMAN: Your name, sir?

I-I-I have no receipt. I can't.

I can't.

I've got insurance.

That's an awful lot of paperwork.

Can't you pay cash?

Cash? Yeah, I-I, uh... I got some cash.

Get in there.

[ Down-tempo music plays ]

[ Indistinct shouting ]

DOCTOR: Looks like a bandage. Bandage here.

- Bandage. - NURSE: Bandage?

- DOCTOR: Bandage. - NURSE: Bandage.

Move down the line.

DOCTOR: This looks like a bandage.

- MAN: Bandage? - NURSE: Move down the line.

MAN: I need more. I need more than a bandage.

- Bandage? - Bandage.

MAN: I need more than a bandage.

NURSE: Move down the line, please.

Did you have your forms filled out, sir?

- I don't have any forms. - NURSE: You don't have them?

No. I... left it...

- I don't have any. - Oh, come on, sir.

I need a doctor.

- I need a doctor. - We need our forms.

Look, you should be feeling a lot better.

They put a Band-Aid on you.

Take this and just go back to the beginning.

- Go back? - Yes, we need our forms, sir.

[ Crying ] I can't go back.

- Bandage. - Bandage.

MAN: I need more than a bandage.

SALESMAN: No cost of installation, no heating costs.

Something you've always dreamt of in a perfect climate.

As I've walked down the road of life,

one thing's been true to me,

and that is that a man's home is his castle.

Now, home is just like the body.

That home gets old, it gets weak, it gets tired.

Now there are many things that can happen to a home.

The roof can leak, gas, fire.

All the devils of the night can sneak in

and wipe out your investment all at once.

Now, ladies and gentlemen, my father and I many years ago

decided that man's home being his castle,

we formed Castle Rebuilding.

And we've been rebuilding castles around this area

for a long, long time,

saving the life investment of many and many a person.

Big closet, big cupboard space.

Ma'am, let me show you. Just one moment, please.

A place to live, a place to live with nice big, roomy houses.

Ma'am, are you tired of watering your grass?

Are you tired or watering your plants?

Are you tired of painting your house, sir?

You're darn right you are. Well, I've got something.

I am now gonna come among you.

And for those of you who are willing,

I am gonna give you my card.

Castle Rebuilders, founded by my father and myself.

We'll accept your home in a trade-in

at a very fair market value.

In fact, you can have your home independently appraised,

let us know what it is.

Our appraisers will check it out,

and if that's a fair market value,

you can trade your home in

for one of these retirement carefree homes.

We make an estimate absolutely free of charge.

Never do we charge one penny

for inspecting your furnace, for inspecting your roof,

for inspecting your electric wiring.

What you have to do is watch out for these fast-talkers.

What one really needs is a friend.

Oh, yes, sir, you're quite right, quite right.

I think this is about the best place to find a friend,

'round an amusement park.

Yes, it is a beautiful place.

It's a beautiful place, right.

And I want to thank you for taking a few minutes

to talk with me, and I'll see you later.

God bless you.

[ Carnival music playing ]

SALESMAN: 85% of a man's savings is wrapped up

in just one single possession, his home.

Do you spend a lot of time fixing your home, sir?

MAN: Yes, I do.

SALESMAN: Do you find that things go wrong?

MAN: Yes, I do.

SALESMAN: Do you find that it makes you tired?

Do you find it makes you sick?

Do you find it makes you say,

"I wish this home would stop breaking down"?

MAN: But when do I have to pay you?

SALESMAN: You don't have to pay me, sir.

[ Carnival music playing, indistinct conversations ]

MAN: Hurry, hurry, hurry!

The big show is just about ready to begin.

Step right up here, young man. Tickets are 25 cents each.

Hurry, hurry, hurry!

The freak show is just about ready to begin.

The biggest show on the lot.

You get your... Oh, wait, your change.

Here's your change. Thank you.

Hurry, hurry, hurry!

The big show is just about ready to begin.

Hurry, get your ticket. Here, young man.

There's your ticket, there's your ticket.

Thank you very much. Hurry, hurry.

Come on, start the show!

[ Applause ]

[ Crowd cheering ]

[ Man shouting indistinctly ]

[ Up-tempo music plays ]

[ Crowd booing, shouting ]

Oh, what a waste! What a waste!

[ Indistinct shouting ]

Hey, one of them's getting away!

Get him! Get him!

Get him!

[ Indistinct shouting ]

WOMAN: Don't let him get away! Get him!

[ Shouting continues ]

[ Bell tolling ]

[ Indistinct conversations ]

[ Indistinct conversations ]

[ Drums playing ]

[ Indistinct conversations ]

[ Woman vocalizing ]

Ooh. [ Chuckles ]

I'm so... I'm so tired and weary.

It's so nice to find a nice little girl.

Oh, what a lovely book.

Would... Would... Would you like me to read the story to you?

Would you? Oh, I would like to very much.

Let's see.

Oh, this is "The Three Little Pigs."

"Once upon a time, there were... Three little pigs

went out into the world to seek their fortunes."

Want some chicken?

Oh, I'd love to have a piece of chicken.

I haven't had anything to eat for some time.

Oh, thank you, dear.

Wouldn't you like to have a piece, too?

No, thanks. I already had some.

Um, "Now, the first thing each of them had to do

was to build a house to live in.

The first little pig met a man carrying a bundle of straw.

'Please, sir, ' he said.

'Give me some straw to build myself a house.'

The straw house was quickly built,

and the little pig was just settling down nicely

when a big, bad wolf knocked in the door

and said, 'Little pig, little pig, let me come in"

'Not by the hair on my chinny-chin-chin, '

said the little pig."

Is that funny?

"Then the big, bad wolf, uh, huffed and he puffed.

And he puffed and he huffed and blew the house in.

He ate up the first little pig,

and that was the end of that little pig."

WOMAN: Girls, come on now. It's time to go.

"Now, the little pig had built himself a house of bricks.

It took him much longer to build the house

than the straw house and the house of sticks.

The little pig had just got to the brick place

when the big, bad wolf knocked on the door and said,

'Little pig, little pig, let me come in!'

'And not... not by the hair of my chinny-chin-chin."

I... Don't... [ Sobbing ] Oh, don't go.

No.

Little o...

[ Indistinct conversations, carnival music playing ]

♪ Cold blows the wind to my true love ♪

♪ And gently drops the rain ♪

♪ I never had but one true love ♪

♪ And in green-wood he lies slain ♪

♪ I'll do as much for my true love ♪

♪ As any young girl may ♪

♪ I'll sit and mourn all on his grave ♪

♪ For 12 months and a day ♪

♪ And when 12 months and a day was passed ♪

♪ The ghost did rise and speak ♪

♪ Why sit you all on my grave ♪

♪ And will not let me be? ♪

♪ How oft on yonder grave, sweetheart ♪

- ♪ Where we were won't to walk ♪ - [ Door opens ]

♪ The fairest flower that ever I saw ♪

Hello.

I say, hello, there.

Don't you, uh, care to talk?

No.

Would you, um... Would you like to do something?

No.

Do you, um, ever go outside?

There's no... There's nothing.

Nothing out there.

Well, I'm... I'm going outside.

You won't li... You won't li... like it.

Well, if you don't mind, I'll see for myself.

Goodbye.

- There's nothing out there. - [ Door opens, closes ]

Just nothing.

[ Breathing heavily ]

Nothing.

Just nothing.

One of these times, the door will open in your life

and you will step into the amusement park,

full of hope, anticipation for the future,

and curiosity for what you will find there.

And whether you return to the white room

desolate, destroyed, and without any hope for the future

will depend on a number of factors,

which, when the time comes, will be beyond your control.

In anticipation for that day,

consider now that the man in the amusement park

is a mirror image of yourself,

separated only by the passage of time.

Consider taking some positive action

while you are young enough to be a positive influence.

It should be obvious to all of you

that the amusement park need not end in a sterile white room.

You can help.

If you have been moved to action,

there are a number of programs already established

which enable concerned persons

to offer volunteer services to the elderly.

Thank you for watching.

I'll see you in the park someday.

[ Rumbling ]

[ Rumbling ]