Original subtitles

MOTHER, I DON'T WANT YOU TO GO.

OH, DARLING, I'LL ONLY BE GONE FOR A WEEK.

THANK YOU.

WELL, WHY DO YOU HAVE TO GO AT ALL?

AHH, PRECIOUS, WE'VE BEEN OVER THIS AND OVER THIS.

I TOLD YOU, I HAVE TO GO TO MINNEAPOLIS

TO ORDER NEW MERCHANDISE FOR THE STORE.

I GO EVERY YEAR.

WELL, WHY CAN'T FATHER GO?

[LAUGHS]

NELS, OH, MY GOODNESS SAKES, NO!

HE WOULD ORDER ALL THE WRONG THINGS.

BESIDES, HE JUST DOESN'T HAVE THE BUSINESS SENSE THAT I HAVE.

YOUR SUITCASE READY TO GO YET?

YES, YES. NELS, HERE. IT'S READY. TAKE IT.

BETTER HURRY UP, OR YOU'RE GOING TO MISS THAT STAGE.

YES, NELS, I'LL BE RIGHT DOWN, FOR HEAVEN'S SAKES!

MOTHER, DON'T GO!

OH, NANCY, DARLING.

WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU?

WHAT IF...

WHAT IF YOU NEVER COME BACK?

NANCY.

OH, DARLING, OF COURSE I'LL COME BACK!

IN THE MEANTIME, YOUR FATHER'S HERE, AND WILLIE.

BUT THEY HATE ME. THEY'LL YELL AT ME ALL THE TIME.

NO ONE WILL HELP ME WITH MY HOMEWORK.

I'LL BE ALL ALONE.

OH, NANCY, DARLING.

YOUR FATHER DOESN'T HATE YOU.

WHY, HE LOVES YOU EVERY BIT AS MUCH AS I DO.

OH! NOW, I WILL MAKE SURE THAT HE HELPS YOU WITH YOUR HOMEWORK.

I'LL TELL HIM, ALL RIGHT?

ALL RIGHT.

OHH.

THAT'S MY PRECIOUS ANGEL.

OH, I JUST KNOW THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE

AS GOOD AS GOLD WHILE I'M GONE.

HA HA.

I'M GOING TO PITCH! GIVE ME THAT BALL!

[ALL YELLING]

Laura: GET UP! STOP IT! STOP IT RIGHT NOW!

Girl: NANCY STARTED IT. SHE TOOK CASSANDRA'S BALL.

I WANTED TO PITCH!

WELL, YOU DIDN'T EVEN ASK.

Laura: QUIET!

I DON'T CARE WHOSE FAULT IT IS.

YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO FIGHT. YOU BOTH KNOW THAT.

NOW, CLEAN YOURSELVES UP.

EVERYBODY GET INSIDE.

RIGHT NOW!

Laura: EVERYBODY, TAKE YOUR SEATS

AND GET OUT YOUR READERS.

MRS. WILDER?

YES?

MY NAME'S ELMER. ELMER MILES.

MY MA TOLD ME I SHOULD GIVE YOU THESE.

THEY'RE MY GRADES FROM MY LAST SCHOOL.

YOU'VE JUST MOVED HERE?

YES, MA'AM.

WELL, ELMER,

IT SEEMS YOU ARE A VERY GOOD STUDENT.

WELCOME TO OUR SCHOOL.

THANKS.

YOU MAY TAKE A SEAT ANYWHERE.

I'LL BET YOU HE TAKES UP TWO SEATS ALL BY HIMSELF.

I THINK YOU BETTER MOVE.

NANCY, WILL YOU STAND UP AND READ ALOUD FROM PAGE 110, PLEASE?

"AN OLD-FASHIONED GIRL.

"POLLY HOPED THE DREADFUL BOY WOULD NOT BE PRESENT,

"BUT HE WAS, AND STARED AT HER ALL DURING DINNER TIME

"IN A MOST TRYING MANNER.

"MR. SHAW, A BUSY-LOOKING GENTLEMAN, SAID,

"HOW DO YOU DO, MY DEAR?"

- COME ON! - COME ON, LET'S GO TO MA'S.

ALL RIGHT, COME ON, LET'S GO.

SEE YOU, GUYS.

HEY, YOU KNOW THAT NEW KID?

HE'S AS BIG AS A WHALE.

WE OUGHT TO CALL HIM "BLUBBER."

COME ON, JOEY.

WELL, WHAT WOULD YOU CALL HIM?

AT MY LAST SCHOOL, THEY CALLED ME "PIGGY."

UH, HE DIDN'T MEAN ANYTHING BY THAT.

IT'S ALL RIGHT.

EVERYBODY HAS TO HAVE A NICKNAME.

IT MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE YOU BELONG.

WELL, SEE YOU TOMORROW, GUYS.

WELL, HE CERTAINLY SEEMS FRIENDLY ENOUGH.

ALL FAT PEOPLE ARE FRIENDLY.

IT'S TRUE!

Elmer: NANCY!

HI. MY NAME'S ELMER.

I KNOW.

DO YOU WANT ME TO CARRY YOUR BOOKS HOME FOR YOU?

THIS IS MY HOME.

OH. WELL, IF YOU WANT ME TO CARRY THEM HOME FOR YOU TOMORROW, I WILL.

I CAN CARRY THEM MYSELF.

OR ANYTHING, ANYTHING AT ALL.

I CAN DO LOTS OF THINGS-- CHOP WOOD, LOTS OF THINGS!

HUH. SEE YOU TOMORROW THEN.

I'VE DECIDED WHILE YOUR MOTHER'S AWAY,

WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THIS HOUSE AND THE STORE A THOROUGH CLEANING.

WHAT?

I'VE MADE A LIST OF CHORES...

CHORES?

AND STARTING TOMORROW, WE'RE GOING TO CLEAN THIS PLACE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM.

WELL, WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO?

WELL, YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE STOREROOM, WILLIE.

I WANT YOU TO TAKE EVERYTHING OFF THE SHELVES,

DUST THEM, SCRUB THEM DOWN,

PUT EVERYTHING BACK IN ITS PROPER PLACE.

WELL, THAT'LL TAKE ME A YEAR!

YOU'VE ONLY GOT A WEEK.

AND YOU'D BETTER DO IT RIGHT.

Nels: NANCY, YOU'RE IN CHARGE OF SCRUBBING THE KITCHEN FLOOR,

WASHING THE WINDOWS IN THE WHOLE HOUSE,

AND BEATING THE RUGS.

BUT--

BUT I'M SUPPOSED TO WATCH THE SWITCHBOARD.

MOTHER SAID SO.

YOU DO YOUR CHORES FIRST,

THEN YOU WORK THE SWITCHBOARD.

Nels: ALL RIGHT, STARTING TOMORROW, WHEN YOU GET HOME FROM SCHOOL,

WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THIS PLACE SHINE.

GO AHEAD, EAT YOUR DESSERT.

AND MY TEACHER MRS. WILDER

ASSIGNED US A NATURE STUDY.

OH, WHAT'S THAT?

COME ON, JESS, CLEAN YOUR PLATE.

I'M FULL!

WE HAVE TO COLLECT LEAVES, FLOWERS, INSECTS

AND MAKE THEM INTO A DISPLAY.

I ALREADY KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO DO.

BUTTERFLIES.

I'M GLAD WE MOVED HERE, PA.

JESS, YOU PUT YOUR ARM DOWN AND FINISH YOUR SUPPER.

DON'T YOU WANT TO GROW UP TO BE BIG AND STRONG

LIKE YOUR PA?

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH HIM.

HE'S SKIN AND BONES.

COME ON, JESS.

I'LL SHOW YOU HOW.

MMM!

MMM!

Elmer: [LAUGHING]

OH, COME ON, JESS.

MMM! GOOD, HUH?

MORE FOOD.

FATHER.

YES?

I DON'T UNDERSTAND MY ARITHMETIC.

COULD YOU HELP ME?

WELL, YES. I'D BE HAPPY TO.

WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?

WELL, WE HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING ON THIS PAGE AND ON THIS PAGE.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S SEE.

WELL, IT'S JUST ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION.

THAT SHOULDN'T BE DIFFICULT.

GOOD. I KNEW YOU COULD DO IT.

WELL, JUST A MINUTE.

WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

TO BED.

WHAT ABOUT YOUR HOMEWORK?

AREN'T YOU GOING TO DO IT?

OF COURSE NOT!

MOTHER ALWAYS DOES MY ARITHMETIC!

OH, I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT.

I TOLD HER YOU WOULDN'T HELP ME.

NANCY! HELPING YOU IS ONE THING,

BUT TO DO THE WORK FOR YOU...

DON'T BOTHER! I'LL JUST FAIL!

I HOPE IT MAKES YOU HAPPY!

[ALL YELLING]

PUT THAT BACK!

I SAW YOU TAKE JAMES' HOMEWORK.

PUT THAT BACK!

YOU DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING.

A FIGHT! FIGHT!

GET HER, CASSANDRA!

COME ON, GET HER!

GET HER, CASSANDRA!

STOP IT! NOW, WHAT HAS GOTTEN INTO YOU TWO?

SHE STOLE JAMES' HOMEWORK.

I WAS ONLY BORROWING IT.

HERE, TAKE IT BACK!

NANCY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH JAMES' HOMEWORK?

SHE STOLE IT BECAUSE MA'S NOT HERE TO DO HER ARITHMETIC FOR HER.

THAT'S NOT TRUE!

Laura: NANCY!

I WANT TO SEE YOU AFTER SCHOOL.

EVERYONE, INSIDE.

[SIGHS]

VERY GOOD, ELMER.

YOU GOT EVERY ONE RIGHT.

ARITHMETIC IS MY BEST SUBJECT.

Laura: NOW, DON'T FORGET THERE'S A SPELLING BEE TOMORROW.

CLASS DISMISSED.

Laura: NANCY!

I'D LIKE TO SEE YOU.

I HAVE TO GET HOME EARLY TODAY, MRS. WILDER.

HONEST.

FATHER NEEDS ME TO HELP OUT WITH THE CHORES.

WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT YOUR HOMEWORK.

I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT YOU.

I'M REALLY SORRY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TODAY, MRS. WILDER.

I WON'T EVER TAKE ANYBODY ELSE'S HOMEWORK AGAIN.

I PROMISE.

IF IT DOES HAPPEN AGAIN,

I'M GOING TO HAVE TO PUNISH YOU.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND?

YES, MA'AM.

CAN I GO NOW?

ALL RIGHT.

[SIGHS]

ELMER!

YEAH?

I THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO CARRY MY BOOKS.

SURE.

I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE SO GOOD AT ARITHMETIC.

I'M PRETTY GOOD AT MOST OF IT.

BUT ARITHMETIC'S MY BEST.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT AT ALL,

BUT NOBODY WILL HELP ME.

I'LL HELP YOU.

WOULD YOU, ELMER?

I'D BE GLAD TO.

I TOLD YOU I'D DO ANYTHING FOR YOU!

GOOD.

WILL YOU DO MINE TOMORROW?

SURE. ANYTHING.

THANK YOU.

SEE YOU TOMORROW.

[BELL RINGING]

ELMER, DID YOU DO THE ARITHMETIC HOMEWORK?

OH, YEAH! HERE'S YOUR COPY.

THANK YOU.

ONLY THING IS, I DON'T THINK I SHOULD BE DOING

YOUR HOMEWORK FOR YOU.

NOBODY WILL EVER KNOW.

OH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'D DO

IF YOU WOULDN'T HELP ME OUT LIKE THIS, ELMER.

WELL, I GUESS IT'S OKAY.

[LAUGHTER]

ALL RIGHT. WHO DID THIS?

ALBERT, ERASE IT RIGHT NOW.

I WANT YOU ALL TO SIT DOWN.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOTTEN INTO YOU.

LATELY, ALL YOU'VE DONE

IS FIGHT AND PICK ON EACH OTHER.

IT SEEMS AS IF ALL OF YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN HOW TO BE FRIENDS.

I WANT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU TO WRITE AN ESSAY ON FRIENDSHIP.

WE'RE GOING TO READ THEM OUT LOUD IN CLASS NEXT WEEK.

MAYBE IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT FOR A WHILE,

YOU'LL REMEMBER WHAT FRIENDSHIP IS ALL ABOUT.

NOW...TAKE OUT YOUR SPELLING WORDS.

HEY, IT LOOKS PRETTY GOOD, HUH?

YEP.

WHAT DO YOU GOT? YOU GOT A LOT.

Albert: MMM! HEY, SANDWICHES! I'M STARVING.

Willie: ME, TOO.

HEY, WILLIE,

IS THAT ALL YOU BROUGHT FOR LUNCH?

YEAH.

ARE YOU GOING TO EAT ALL THAT?

I'LL BET YOU A NICKEL

I CAN FINISH ALL MINE BEFORE YOU FINISH YOURS.

YOU GOT A BET.

COME ON, WILLIE!

OH, WILLIE.

HURRY UP!

COME ON! HE'S WINNING!

- HURRY UP! - HURRY UP!

- HURRY UP. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO WIN. - HURRY, WILLIE, GO!

Joey: HURRY UP! EAT IT ALL!

Albert: HURRY UP! HE'S WINNING!

Boy: COME ON, WILLIE! COME ON!

HURRY, WILLIE! COME ON!

Joey: COME ON, WILLIE, YOU CAN WIN!

[KIDS CHEERING FOR WILLIE]

Joey: HURRY! HURRY! HE'S WINNING.

OH, COME ON, WILLIE, HURRY UP!

Albert: WILLIE, HURRY UP! HE'S DONE WITH HIS SANDWICH!

HE'S STARTING ON THE CAKE!

HURRY! AW, COME ON, WILLIE, GO!

I FEEL AWFUL.

I CAN'T EAT ANY MORE.

I'M STUFFED.

- [LAUGHS] - OKAY, WILLIE.

YOU OWE ME A NICKEL.

WAY TO GO, BLUBBER!

All: YAY!

James: HEY, ALBERT, AREN'T WE GOING TO PLAY BALL?

YEAH, WE'RE COMING.

ELMER, YOU WANT TO PLAY ON MY TEAM?

NO. I THINK I'LL JUST... REST.

OKAY.

I SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT.

I WANT TO BAT.

YOU CAN'T BAT. IT'S JAMES' TURN.

BESIDES, YOU'RE NOT EVEN ON THE TEAM.

ELMER!

YEAH?

I WANT TO BAT FIRST, AND THEY WON'T LET ME.

THEY'RE JUST PICKING ON ME BECAUSE THEY KNOW I'M YOUR GIRLFRIEND.

YOU ARE?

OF COURSE I AM!

IF YOU WANT ME TO BE.

SURE I WOULD!

WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE SUPPER AT MY HOUSE TONIGHT?

I SURE WOULD.

THEN MAKE THEM LET ME BAT FIRST.

Willie: COME ON, HIT THAT BALL, JAMES!

- COME ON. - COME ON!

HEY!

WHAT'D YOU GIVE HIM THE BAT FOR? YOU WERE UP FIRST.

WELL, LOOK AT HIM!

WOULD YOU FIGHT HIM FOR THE BAT?

THANK YOU, ELMER.

IT'S OKAY.

NANCY WAS BOSSY BEFORE.

IF SHE GETS ELMER ON HER SIDE...

OH, BOY!

HERE WE ARE.

WHY, ELMER MILES,

YOU'RE GETTING TO BE AS HANDSOME AS YOUR PA.

I KNOW, BUT THE CLOTHES, THEY SEEM KIND OF SMALL.

OH, YOU'RE JUST A GROWING BOY IS ALL.

YOU LOOK FINE.

NOW, WHAT ABOUT THIS NANCY?

TELL ME ABOUT HER.

WELL, SHE'S REAL PRETTY, MA.

SHE'S NICE...

MOST OF THE TIME, ANYWAY.

AND SHE WANTS TO BE MY GIRLFRIEND.

BUT OF COURSE SHE DOES!

AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE LOTS MORE GIRLFRIENDS, TOO.

NOW, I TOLD YOU IT WAS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT HERE,

DIDN'T I?

YOU SURE DID, MA.

ALL RIGHT, THEN.

OFF YOU GO.

YOU DON'T WANT TO BE LATE.

BYE. HAVE A GOOD TIME!

Elmer: BYE!

[CRICKETS CHIRPING]

WELL, I HOPE YOU LIKE FRIED CHICKEN, ELMER.

THERE ARE ONLY TWO THINGS I DON'T EAT FOR SUPPER--

BREAKFAST AND LUNCH.

[LAUGHTER]

THAT'S PLENTY.

HOW COME YOU'RE NOT EATING ANYTHING?

THIS IS PLENTY!

YOU SHOULD SEE HIM.

HE CAN EAT MORE THAN ANYBODY YOU EVER SAW.

GO ON, ELMER, SHOW HIM!

I DON'T THINK SO.

WILLIE, LET OUR GUEST EAT WHAT HE WANTS TO EAT.

NONSENSE, FATHER.

HE WANTS TO EAT EVERYTHING.

DON'T YOU, ELMER?

WELL--

PLEASE? I LOVE TO WATCH YOU EAT.

- NANCY, I-- - OH, DON'T ACT SO BASHFUL.

SHOW HIM.

GO ON.

Willie: WATCH THIS.

HE CAN REALLY PILE IT IN.

[NANCY AND WILLIE LAUGH]

ISN'T THAT GREAT?

ISN'T THAT JUST THE FUNNIEST THING YOU EVER SAW?

[NANCY AND WILLIE CONTINUE LAUGHING]

ELMER!

DID YOU HAVE A GOOD TIME, DEAR?

OH, YEAH, MA. I HAD A GREAT TIME.

I HAD THEM ROLLING ON THE FLOOR.

THAT'S GOOD.

WELL, GOOD NIGHT, DEAR.

GOOD NIGHT, MA.

Elmer's Mother: ELMER, ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?

LET ME IN!

[KNOCKING ON DOOR] ELMER!

ELMER!

LEAVE ME ALONE.

ELMER.

JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!

WE'LL PUT YOUR STARTING WEIGHT RIGHT DOWN HERE ON THIS CARD.

THEN, WHENEVER YOU WANT TO SEE HOW MUCH WEIGHT YOU LOST,

YOU JUST LOOK AT IT.

I FIGURE IF I WATCH WHAT I EAT,

RUN TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY, KEEP DOING MY CHORES,

IT OUGHT TO BE EASY TO LOSE WEIGHT.

GOOD BOY!

NOW, WHENEVER YOU WANT TO WEIGH IN, YOU JUST DROP IN.

THANKS, DR. BAKER.

OH, NO, YOU DON'T.

OH! GOOD MORNING, FATHER!

I WAS JUST LEAVING FOR SCHOOL.

YOU WERE TRYING TO SNEAK OUT WITHOUT MY SEEING YOU.

WHAT?

NOW, I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ANY MORE EXCUSES, NANCY.

WHEN YOU GET HOME FROM SCHOOL TODAY,

YOU ARE SCRUBBING THE KITCHEN FLOOR

IF I HAVE TO STAND OVER YOU ALL THE TIME.

Nels: YOU UNDERSTAND?

I WAS PLANNING TO DO IT THIS AFTERNOON.

I'LL BE WAITING FOR YOU.

[MOCKING] I'LL BE WAITING FOR YOU!

FOR GOODNESS SAKE!

Elmer: HI, NANCY!

GOOD MORNING, ELMER.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME OVER TO MY HOUSE AFTER SCHOOL?

SURE!

FINE.

NANCY, WHEN YOU FINISH THAT--

Nels: ELMER!

YES, SIR?

WHAT ARE YOU DOING SCRUBBING OUR KITCHEN FLOOR?

I'M HELPING NANCY. IT'S HARD FOR HER,

BEING ALLERGIC TO SOAP AND ALL.

I SEE.

YOU DON'T HAPPEN TO KNOW WHERE NANCY MIGHT BE, DO YOU?

Woman: WELL, YOU KNOW, SHE AND HER SISTER

HAVEN'T SPOKEN TO EACH OTHER FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS.

SO, WHEN I FOUND OUT HER SISTER WAS COMING TO VISIT,

WELL, ALL I CAN SAY IS

YOU COULD'VE KNOCKED ME OVER WITH A FEATHER.

AND CONFIDENTIALLY--

NANCY!

YOU COME ALONG WITH ME, YOUNG LADY!

BUT, FATHER!

I HAVE TOLD YOU,

I WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO LISTEN IN ON PEOPLE'S CONVERSATIONS.

NOW, YOU'RE GOING TO FINISH UP YOUR CHORES

AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO YOUR ROOM.

Nancy: BUT, FATHER!

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

CASSANDRA, LOOK WHAT I FOUND.

A BIRD'S NEST.

I BET THAT'S THE BEST THING ANYONE WILL FIND.

YEAH!

HELP ME FIND SOMETHING!

ELMER!

YEAH?

ELMER, WOULD YOU PLEASE GET ME THAT...

THING OUT THERE?

DO YOU REALLY NEED IT?

I WANT IT.

CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?

WITH NANCY, I CAN BELIEVE ANYTHING.

OH, YOU DUMMY!

WHY DO YOU KEEP DOING STUFF FOR HER?

BECAUSE SHE'S MY FRIEND.

SHE SURE HAS GOT A STRANGE WAY OF SHOWING IT.

BESIDES, WHY AREN'T YOU GETTING STUFF FOR YOUR OWN PROJECT?

I ALREADY DID MINE.

YOU DID? WHAT IS IT?

- PROMISE YOU WON'T TELL ANYONE? - SURE!

COME ON, I'LL SHOW YOU.

Willie: BUTTERFLIES.

Elmer: AREN'T THEY BEAUTIFUL?

WHEN I GET THEM BACK FROM MRS. WILDER,

I'M GOING TO MOUNT THEM IN MY ROOM.

NOW, REMEMBER, YOU PROMISED NOT TO TELL.

OH, DON'T WORRY, ELMER.

YOUR SECRET'S SAFE WITH ME.

Nancy: ELMER!

DID YOU FIND ANYTHING GOOD?

I FOUND SOMETHING GREAT.

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO HELP ME

TEACH NANCY A LESSON?

YEAH.

YEAH.

- HELLO? Willie: ALBERT?

YEAH?

I'M GLAD I FOUND YOU.

I NEED YOU TO DO ME A BIG FAVOR.

I HAVEN'T STARTED MY NATURE STUDY YET,

AND IT'S DUE TOMORROW.

Albert: WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I COULD DO FOR YOU.

Willie: ELMER WAS GOING TO SELL ME HIS,

BUT I ALREADY SPENT MY ALLOWANCE.

AND I NEED YOU TO LEND ME 50 CENTS.

Albert: 50 CENTS?

Willie: OH, PLEASE, ALBERT?

OH, ALL RIGHT. BYE.

ALBERT, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE TALKING ON THE PHONE?

OH, I'M JUST PLAYING A LITTLE GAME WITH WILLIE.

BYE.

BYE.

12 POUNDS.

YOU'VE LOST 12 POUNDS, ELMER!

- 12? REALLY? - YEAH!

THANKS, DR. BAKER!

NO, NO, DON'T THANK ME. YOU'RE THE ONE WHO DID IT.

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

I WILL. I WILL!

NANCY, GUESS WHAT!

ELMER, I WANT TO BUY YOUR NATURE STUDY.

WHAT?

YOUR NATURE STUDY.

I DIDN'T DO MINE, AND I NEED YOURS.

HERE'S THE 50 CENTS.

BUT...I WON'T HAVE ONE TO TURN IN.

YOU KNOW MRS. WILDER WILL EXCUSE YOU.

YOU'RE NEW.

SHE HATES ME.

PLEASE?

Elmer: NANCY, DON'T YOU NOTICE ANYTHING DIFFERENT?

NO.

I LOST 12 POUNDS!

SO WHAT?

YOU'D HAVE TO LOSE 100 BEFORE ANYBODY WOULD NOTICE.

HAVE YOU SEEN ELMER?

IT'S TOO LATE, WILLIE. I GOT IT.

HEY, EVERYBODY, LOOK AT MY COLLECTION.

I BET IT'S THE BEST ONE!

Albert: WHAT DO YOU THINK, NANCY?

ISN'T IT SOMETHING?

Nancy: IT'S JUST A COLLECTION OF LEAVES.

Albert: YEAH, BUT THEY'RE ALL DIFFERENT COLORS.

ALL RIGHT. EVERYONE TAKE YOUR SEATS.

MRS. WILDER,

I'M SURE MINE IS THE VERY BEST.

[STUDENTS MURMURING]

ALL RIGHT, NANCY.

WE'LL LOOK AT YOURS FIRST.

- [GASPS] - [LAUGHTER]

IS THIS YOUR IDEA OF A JOKE, NANCY?

MRS. WILDER, I HAD NO IDEA!

WHAT DO YOU MEAN? ISN'T THIS YOUR HOMEWORK?

NO!

I MEAN, YES!

IT IS, BUT I...

IN THE CORNER!

WHAT?

IN THE CORNER!

[STUDENTS LAUGH]

ALBERT, WILL YOU PLEASE GET THESE...

CREATURES IN THEIR BOX?

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

Elmer: NANCY!

NANCY, WAIT!

THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME MISTAKE.

DON'T EVER TALK TO ME AGAIN,

YOU BIG, FAT SLOB!

OH, ALL RIGHT.

OH, DRIVER, DON'T FORGET THE PACKAGES IN THERE.

I KNOW, I KNOW.

HERE YOU GO, LADY.

OH, WELL, FINE...

WELL, IF YOU WILL JUST CARRY THESE THINGS IN FOR ME,

AND I'LL GET THE LITTLE BAG.

LADY, I HAVE A SCHEDULE TO KEEP.

WELL, IT'S ONLY GOING TO TAKE TWO MINUTES OF YOUR TIME!

I'M GOING TO REPORT YOU TO YOUR COMPANY!

OH, FOR HEAVEN'S SAKES!

HELLO! EVERYBODY, I'M HOME!

NELS!

HARRIET! YOU'RE HOME EARLY!

OH, WELL, I THOUGHT PERHAPS

YOU COULDN'T MANAGE TOO WELL WITHOUT ME.

YOU MISSED US, HUH?

WELL...

Nancy: MOTHER! YOU'RE HOME!

YOU'RE REALLY HOME!

WELCOME HOME, MA!

I KNOW, WILLIE!

OH, YOU'RE SO SWEET!

OH, MY GOODNESS.

MY, EVERYTHING LOOKS SO NICE AND CLEAN.

NEAT AS A PIN, ISN'T IT?

YES! WELL, I COULDN'T HAVE DONE

BETTER MYSELF.

WELL, WE ALL JUST GOT IN THERE TOGETHER

AND DECIDED TO GIVE YOU A COMING HOME PRESENT.

[GASPS]

SPEAKING OF PRESENTS. HERE. NELS, FOR YOU.

AND WILLIE, DEAR.

Harriet: AND FOR MY PRECIOUS LITTLE GIRL...

THERE.

Nels: DIDN'T YOU GET ANYTHING FOR YOURSELF?

OH, WELL, THAT MUST HAVE COST A PRETTY PENNY.

NO, IT DIDN'T COST THAT MUCH AT ALL.

HERE, DARLING, LET ME HELP YOU.

OH, PIPE TOBACCO.

OH, WELL, IT'S A NEW BRAND,

AND I THOUGHT MAYBE IF YOU LIKE IT,

WE'LL CARRY IT IN THE STORE.

GEE, THANKS, MA!

YES, HONEY. YOU'RE WELCOME.

OH! OH, IT'S BEAUTIFUL!

OH...

THANK YOU, MOTHER!

OH, I LEFT THE BEANS ON THE STOVE!

OH! LET'S GO ON UPSTAIRS NOW AND TRY IT ON.

COME ON. COME ON.

- MA? - YES?

CAN I GO OUT AND PLAY UNTIL SUPPER?

YES. OH, BUT FIRST YOU HAVE TO BRING MY BAGS UPSTAIRS, ALL RIGHT?

NOW, EVERY GIRL IN WALNUT GROVE

IS JUST GOING TO BE GREEN WITH ENVY WHEN THEY SEE YOU IN THIS NEW DRESS!

AH! YOU LOOK LIKE AN ANGEL!

WHAT'S THE MATTER, SWEETHEART?

DON'T YOU LIKE YOUR DRESS?

OH, YES, MOTHER.

VERY MUCH.

WELL, THEN, WHAT'S THE MATTER?

OH, NOTHING, REALLY.

OH, COME, COME, COME, DARLING.

YOU CAN TELL MOTHER.

WELL, I DON'T WANT TO COMPLAIN.

FATHER AND WILLIE REALLY DID THEIR BEST.

OH...

BUT, OF COURSE, I ENDED UP

DOING MOST OF THE HOUSE CLEANING.

AND FATHER NEVER DID HELP ME WITH MY HOMEWORK.

UGH!

WELL, I'LL TALK TO HIM ABOUT THAT.

OH, NO. DON'T BLAME HIM.

HE REALLY WAS AWFULLY BUSY.

OH, YES. I'M SURE HE WAS.

IT'S JUST...

I NEVER HAD TIME TO WRITE MY ESSAY ON FRIENDSHIP,

AND IT'S DUE TOMORROW.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO DO.

OH...

WELL, SWEETHEART, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.

WE'LL FIGURE OUT SOMETHING.

OH!

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

YOU'RE UP KIND OF LATE, AREN'T YOU, HONEY?

I'VE GOT TO FINISH THIS ESSAY BY TOMORROW.

ADAMS' NEW YORK RUBBER GUM?

WHERE'D YOU GET ALL THIS STUFF?

AT THE MERCANTILE.

WELL, YOU DO HAVE TO KEEP YOUR ENERGY UP

WHILE YOU'RE DOING YOUR HOMEWORK.

TRY TO GET TO BED PRETTY SOON, HMM?

GOOD NIGHT, DEAR.

MOTHER!

Harriet: I'M HERE, SWEETHEART.

WHERE'S MY ESSAY?

I'M ALMOST FINISHED.

YOU'RE DOING HER HOMEWORK FOR HER?

WELL, YES, IT'S ONLY A TINY LITTLE ESSAY.

SHE'S SO BUSY.

YOU CAN'T EXPECT HER TO DO EVERYTHING.

EVERYTHING?

MM-HMM.

THERE, THERE. FINISHED.

"MY BEST FRIEND--

MY...MOTHER?"

OH, THAT HAS SUCH A NICE RING TO IT.

Harriet: [CHUCKLES]

GOOD MORNING, ELMER.

YOU WANT TO STOP AND WEIGH IN?

NO THANKS. NOT TODAY, DR. BAKER.

Nancy: "AND BESIDES BEING SO PRETTY,

"SHE HAS A VERY SWEET DISPOSITION,

"WHICH IS WHY I HOPE TO GROW UP

TO BE JUST LIKE MY BEST FRIEND-- MY MOTHER."

Laura: THANK YOU, NANCY.

THAT WAS...VERY NICE.

OH, IT WAS ALL RIGHT.

ELMER, YOU'RE LATE.

I'M SORRY.

Laura: DO YOU HAVE YOUR ESSAY?

YES, MA'AM.

THIS WILL BE A FUNNY ONE.

"WHAT FRIENDSHIP MEANS TO ME.

"FRIENDSHIP MEANS NOT CALLING SOMEONE NAMES

"OR LAUGHING AT THE WAY THEY WALK OR EAT

"OR ANYTHING.

"IT MEANS LIKING SOMEONE JUST THE WAY THEY ARE.

"IT MEANS LAUGHING AT SOMEONE'S JOKES,

"BUT NOT EXPECTING THEM TO JOKE AROUND ALL THE TIME.

"IT MEANS KNOWING THAT SOMETIMES YOU LAUGH

"JUST SO YOU WON'T CRY.

"FRIENDSHIP MEANS NOT PUSHING OTHER PEOPLE AROUND

"AND NOT LETTING THEM PUSH YOU AROUND.

"IT MEANS WANTING TO BE AROUND PEOPLE

"JUST BECAUSE YOU LIKE THEM.

"TROUBLE IS

"I NEVER MET ANYONE WHO WANTED TO BE AROUND ME

"JUST BECAUSE THEY LIKED ME.

"I FIGURE THAT'S BECAUSE I'M SOME KIND OF A...

"A MISFIT.

"AND THAT'S WHY I'M NOT COMING BACK TO SCHOOL ANYMORE.

YOU ALL BELONG TOGETHER. I DON'T."

WELL, SOMETHING MUST HAVE HAPPENED TO MAKE YOU WANT TO QUIT.

JESS, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU BECAME SUCH A PICKY EATER.

I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT, PA.

I'M AFRAID YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TALK ABOUT IT.

YOU'RE A BRIGHT BOY. YOU NEED YOUR EDUCATION.

I WANT YOU TO EAT THE REST OF YOUR SUPPER.

WHY CAN'T YOU BE LIKE ELMER?

WHY DON'T YOU JUST LEAVE HIM ALONE?

ELMER.

WHY DO YOU MAKE HIM EAT ALL THE TIME?

YOU WANT HIM TO GET FAT LIKE ME?

YOU WANT ALL THE KIDS TO LAUGH AT HIM

AND NOT HAVE ANY FRIENDS?

IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT?

WELL, MAYBE HE'S JUST NOT HUNGRY.

WHAT ON EARTH HAS GOTTEN INTO THAT BOY?

SOUNDS LIKE GOOD SENSE TO ME.

SON...

THEY CAN'T MAKE ME GO BACK.

YOU CAN AT LEAST LISTEN TO WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY.

LISTENING NEVER HURT ANYBODY.

HELLO, ELMER.

HELLO.

WE'VE GOT SOMETHING WE'D LIKE TO SAY TO YOU.

I HOPE YOU'LL HEAR US OUT.

THIS AFTERNOON,

YOU SORT OF SAID THAT WE'VE BEEN LAUGHING AT YOU.

WE HAVEN'T BEEN LAUGHING AT YOU.

ELMER, WE'VE BEEN LAUGHING WITH YOU.

THE ONLY THING IS WE WERE SO STUPID,

WE DIDN'T NOTICE YOU WEREN'T LAUGHING.

Albert: THE THING IS, YOU'RE NO MORE A MISFIT THAN THE REST OF US.

WE ALL HAVE OUR FAULTS

THAT NOBODY MUCH LIKES ABOUT US.

YEAH, LIKE I PLAY DIRTY TRICKS ON PEOPLE

AND EVERYBODY GETS MAD AT ME.

- THEY DO? - SURE.

Joey: I CALLED EVERYBODY NICKNAMES.

I USED TO CALL WILLIE "HOG"

UNTIL HE PRACTICALLY BEAT ME UP.

HE COULD EAT MORE THAN ANYBODY

UNTIL YOU CAME ALONG.

I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.

YEAH, AND I ALWAYS THOUGHT CALLING YOU "BLUBBER" WAS MEAN,

BUT YOU SEEMED TO ENJOY IT!

MAYBE IF YOU WOULD'VE TOLD US TO STOP,

THINGS WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN SO BAD.

Albert: OH, I'M NOT BLAMING YOU.

I'M JUST SAYING, WE ALL HAVE OUR FAULTS.

ISN'T THAT RIGHT, NANCY?

MOTHER AND I TALKED FOR HOURS TRYING TO THINK OF ONE,

AND WE COULDN'T COME UP WITH ONE SINGLE SOLITARY FAULT.

[SIGHS]

ANYWAY...

Albert: ALL WE CAN DO IS WORK TOGETHER AND ACCEPT EACH OTHER--

FAULTS AND ALL.

I HOPE YOU'LL GIVE US WHAT WE NEVER GAVE YOU--

A CHANCE.

WON'T YOU COME BACK TO SCHOOL, ELMER?

WON'T YOU, PLEASE?

I GUESS I WOULDN'T MIND.

Nancy: GIVE ME THAT BALL! Carrie: NO!

Nancy: I SAID GIVE IT TO ME!

NO!

WELL, IF YOU WON'T LET ME PITCH,

I WANT TO BE THE CAPTAIN.

YOU'RE NOT ON MY TEAM!

ALBERT, I WANT TO PLAY!

NOT ON MY TEAM!

OH, WE'LL JUST SEE ABOUT THAT.

ELMER!

ELMER, ALBERT WON'T LET ME--

ELMER!

SORRY, NANCY, YOU'LL HAVE TO WORK THINGS OUT

FOR YOURSELF FROM NOW ON.

James: OH, BOY, ALBERT! LET'S GO PLAY!

Albert: HEY, EVERYBODY OUT ON THE FIELD!

- WILLIE! WILLIE! - SURE.

MOTHER!