Original subtitles

[theme music]

[upbeat music]

[groaning]

[shrieking]

Get away.

[muttering]

Hey!

[cackles]

[coughs]

[muttering]

Aha!

Look!

That's-- [muttering]

They'll take it from you.

No!

$3 even.

Thank you.

All right.

Best tacos in town.

I get 'em with the green sauce.

They're hotter than blue blazes.

Yeah, I bet your stomach appreciates that.

Hey, are you kidding?

Don't you worry about me.

My stomach's made out of cast iron.

MAN: [shrieking]

Listen to that guy.

He's nuttier than a fruitcake.

He ought to be put away.

Well, I'm sure he's spent some time in a mental hospital.

And they turned him loose in that condition?

Maybe they don't have any choice.

It's against the law to keep him in unless he's a danger

to himself or somebody else.

The only place he's got left to go is the streets.

[shrieking]

VENDOR: [shouting in spanish] I told

you to stay away from here.

You're scaring off my business.

Now get along!

[shouting in spanish]

[shrieking]

VENDOR: [shouting in spanish]

[shrieking]

Somebody's got to do something about people like that.

Yeah.

Hurry up and finish.

We've got an appointment.

Where?

At a place where they're trying to do

something for people like that.

[upbeat music]

[dogs barking]

I've never seen so many for sale signs.

You'd think there was a toxic waste dump in the neighborhood.

No, there's no toxic waste, but something that

scares people just as much.

Let's go.

[knocking on door]

Hi.

Ms. Ryder?

Sharon Ryder.

And you must be Jonathan and Mark.

Right.

I'm Jonathan Smith, Mark Gordon.

I'm the house manager.

We've been expecting you.

Come on in.

Thank you.

SHARON: Dr. Gage!

Oh.

Oh.

Oh, are you all right?

Yeah, I-- I'm fine.

[chuckles] Dr. Gage, these are our house helpers,

Jonathan Smith and Mark Gordon.

Oh, Terry, uh, Terry Gage.

How are you?

I'm glad you're here.

Your place looks like it could use some work.

Yeah, only I'm not the man to do it.

There's a very poor correlation between house

plumbing and psychiatry.

SHARON: [chuckles]

Don't worry about it.

We'll take care of the plumbing.

Appreciate it.

Our people will be arriving very shortly.

And this old fixer-upper still needs a lot of fixing.

JONATHAN: How many residents are you gonna have?

Eight.

And we're really very excited about it.

Dr. Gage has been trying to establish a halfway house

in this town for years.

What took so long?

DR. GAGE: Community resistance mostly.

People just don't want us around.

It's funny.

Few people would object to living

near a hospital or a clinic.

But the thought of living next door

to someone with a mental disorder

scares most people silly.

[horn honking]

Hmm.

Whoop, they're here.

Looks like we're in business.

Yeah.

Excuse me.

Jonathan, let me ask you something.

Mm-hmm?

Are we gonna be living here with them?

Yeah, we're gonna be living here with them.

Come on, let's get to fixing the plumbing.

[upbeat music]

Agnes.

Here we go.

Come on.

Yeah.

Hey, this is a nice room, right?

And you got a lot of sun, nice view.

What do you think?

Uh, anybody have a preference what bed you get?

We could toss a coin.

[chuckles]

I don't care.

That makes it a lot easier.

Listen, why don't you, uh, take this one

over here, and let Tom have the one closer to the bathroom?

When you get older, the old kidneys need shorter walks.

Right, Tom?

[chuckles]

Uh, uh, need any help unpacking?

Yeah.

Well, uh, listen, you guys need anything, you just let me know,

OK?

Is jogging allowed?

Jogging?

Sure.

And that's a great sport.

Helps shake the cobwebs out of the old noddle.

[chuckles] Uh, listen, I've been thinking

about taking it up myself.

We'll get together, huh?

Talk to you later.

Oh, this is a lovely dress.

Thank you.

I made it myself.

You did?

Really?

[sighs] I wish I could knit.

I never learned.

Anne, isn't this beautiful?

Peggy made it.

[dogs barking outside]

She almost never talks.

Peggy, I understand you're married.

And you have two children?

Yes.

How often do you get to see them?

Oh, they come to visit on the weekends,

and Dr. Gage lets me go home sometimes.

I'll bet you're looking forward

to going home permanently.

Some day.

I'm just not ready yet.

I understand.

Oh my gosh.

Look at the time.

I've got to go start dinner.

I've got a lot of people to cook for.

I sure could use some help.

Can you wait until I finish unpacking?

Sure.

Anne, what about you?

Well, maybe you can help another time.

MARK: [sniffling]

Oh, oh.

Hey, Mark, do me a favor.

Turn that water on, will you?

Uh-huh.

OK, you can shut it off.

That's all fixed.

Thanks, Jonathan.

You're a miracle worker.

Oh, ho, ho.

Yeah, that he is.

That he is.

[sighs] Oh boy.

Oh.

Mark, what's wrong.

Oh, I think that's his stomach thanking him for lunch.

MARK: I must've got a bad jalapeño.

Well, there's some antacid in the upstairs bathroom.

No, I'll be fine.

Besides, the last time I was up there,

Tom had locked himself in.

Boy, you got some weird people in this house.

Well, I mean, all but that Mrs. Ward, um, Peggy.

I mean, she seems so normal.

What's she in for anyway?

Hey, Mark.

I have reaction depression, Mr. Gordon.

Or you might say a nervous breakdown.

I'm sorry.

Sometimes I talk without thinking.

It's all right.

Part of the cure is being able to explain your illness.

Is there something I can do?

Well, let's see.

You could start frying the taco shells.

Taco shells?

Ugh.

Excuse me.

I think I will try those antacids.

Oh boy, taco shells.

[doorbell rings]

I'll get it.

Oh boy.

Yeah?

I'd like to speak to someone in charge here.

I guess I'm gonna have to do.

What are you selling?

My name is Raney at 2250, across the street.

I'm president of the homeowners association.

Well, it's about time some of the neighbors

started coming by.

I'm Mark Gordon.

Oh.

This is not a social call.

I'm here to inform you that your trash barrels are

sitting out there by the curb.

Yeah, well, we just moved in.

We had a lot of trash.

We figured we'd get it out early so we wouldn't miss

the pick up in the morning.

The homeowners' covenants and restrictions clearly

prohibit refuse receptacles from being

in view before 8:00 PM the night prior to scheduled pickup.

And that's what you gain by to tell me?

I brought you a copy of the code for your enlightenment.

Isn't it customary to bake the new neighbors

a plate of brownies or something like that?

We never wanted you people here.

But since you're here, we expect you to abide by the same rules

as the rest of us.

Really nice talking to ya.

Grouch.

Hm.

[dog barking]

Hey, hey, how ya doing, buddy?

How ya doing?

Good to see me, huh?

You miss me?

Hey, Pete.

Hey.

How are you doing, Dad? MR. LOWELL: Hey.

[chuckles] - Good to see ya.

Ah, you're looking good, Son.

I guess college food agrees with you.

Well, coach has got us on a new weight training program.

I'll teach you how it's done, huh?

Hey, I can still take you in the best of five

falls, and don't you forget it.

How long you staying?

Uh, the semester starts in a couple weeks.

Well, come on in.

Your mom's cooking supper.

We'll surprise her.

Say, Dad, what's with the for sale sign?

I wrote you about what was going in next door, didn't I?

The halfway house.

Yeah, well it's happened.

Now everyone's trying to get out while we still have our shirts.

[sighs]

Hey, guys, I heard this joke.

You ready?

A guy buys this parrot, see?

And he is told that this parrot speaks 20 languages.

[chuckles] So he, uh--

he takes the parrot home, see?

And, uh-- well, the parrot never says a word

and, uh, well, the guy gets kind of mad, you see.

And, uh, I kind of understand how this guy feels.

At the hospital, they didn't want us talking during meals.

Jay, listen to me--

all of you, you're not in the hospital anymore.

This is a home, your home.

You're much freer here to do what you please.

Yeah.

And you see, the dinner table is the best place in the house

to just gab and carry on.

That's right.

So let's use this time to discuss house duties.

With a family this size, we have to share the cooking,

the cleaning, the laundry.

Hey, and I could use some help with the house too.

It needs a lot of work.

It needs some paint.

That front yard's a mess.

Any volunteers?

I always loved flowers.

I could plant some.

You're hired.

You-- you'd trust us to paint the house?

Well, sure I would--

painting, repairs.

What about you, Jack?

Can you swing a hammer?

I can try.

You got a job.

SHARON: All right.

[laughter]

It isn't fair.

The city council just shoved those people down our throats,

and now the property values are dropping out of sight.

Mr. Meyers, it seems to me the reason

property values are dropping is because everyone's

trying to sell.

Of course they are.

Who wants to live next door to a mental facility?

I'm afraid to go to work and leave your mother here

with people running around loose like that.

Mom, are you afraid?

I don't know.

I haven't met any of them.

I just don't know.

[glass breaking]

Get out of here, you crazy sickos!

Hey, Mr. Meyers, that's your son.

Hey, you kids!

Leave 'em alone, Pete.

But, Dad, they just--

It's none of your business.

You don't live here anymore.

We do.

If it's going to take something like this for them

to get the message, so be it.

Let's get some coffee.

[somber music]

[upbeat music]

Hello.

Would you like a flower?

Pretty, isn't it?

NEIGHBOR: Mindy, come back here.

I told you not to go near strangers.

Now, stay with me.

See you later.

Sir, can I help you?

Are you one of the--

I mean, do you live here?

Yeah, I'm Jonathan Smith, assistant house manager.

Finally, someone in authority.

So what can I do for you?

I wonder if you're aware that any home improvements

or landscaping must first be approved by the homeowners'

architectural committee?

Improvements, what do you mean?

Planting some flowers and painting the house?

Mm.

A written approval must be granted

before commencement of any home improvement project.

Failure to comply will result--

Jonathan, well, I got her all chopped up.

We've got limbs all over the backyard.

Oh, good job.

Yeah.

I'll get it all stacked up.

Good enough.

Doesn't it worry you to be around mental patients

like that?

Oh no, no.

I'm used to it.

Of course, the sad part is he's not a mental patient.

He's a member of the staff.

Dear Lord.

[chuckles]

We'll get this one.

It's cheaper.

But I don't like apple sauce.

Well, it doesn't matter what you like.

It's on the list.

Well, I won't eat it.

Look, they're watching us.

Boo-hoo!

Stop that.

You want people to talk?

People talk and people point and people laugh.

Get used to it.

Hey, how are you two doing?

Almost done here.

Have you seen Peggy?

She's over where the vegetables are.

I'll see if she needs any help.

[harp plays]

Oh.

Let me help you.

I don't know how I did this.

It happened to me once.

My little girl knocked over a whole display of tuna cans.

I was so embarrassed.

MRS. LOWELL: Did you drop this?

Oh, yes.

It must have dropped out of my purse.

Oh, handsome men.

Thank you.

SALLY: I have one son.

Only he's all grown up now and away at college.

He's home for semester break.

That's why I'm buying all this food.

I bet you're proud of him.

SALLY: Oh, very.

How old's your daughter?

Um, she would have been, uh, nine last April.

I'm Sally Lowell.

Peggy Ward.

Are you new in the neighborhood?

I just moved here yesterday.

MRS. LOWELL: Oh, you'll like it here.

The people are real friendly.

It's a great place to raise kids.

Well, I better get a move on.

I'll see you again, Peggy.

I'm sure I will.

I hope so, Sally.

Bye-bye.

Bye.

It looks like you made yourself a friend, huh?

You got everything?

Yes.

We're on our way then.

[upbeat music]

[dog barking]

Hey, hey, pal, pal, leave me alone, will ya?

Hey, hey, hey now, I said get lost.

Stop!

[tires squealing]

[dog barking]

Hey, pal, you all right, huh?

That was all my fault. I was stupid to throw

the ball like that.

[dog panting]

Looks like I owe you a dog.

Oh, that's all right.

Hey, wait a minute.

Do you have to go?

I mean, you just saved my dog's life.

I haven't even had a chance to thank you yet.

My name's Pete.

Well, I'm Anne.

PETE: Thanks, Anne.

I raised this little guy from a pup.

He's a nice dog.

His name is Willie.

Say, I haven't seen you around here before.

Where do you live?

There.

SALLY: Peter!

I'd like to talk to you for a minute.

Yeah, but wait a minute.

I'll be right there.

I've got to go.

Peter, that girl you were talking to lives in that house.

So?

So?

So she's ill, Peter.

For God's sake, don't get involved

with somebody like that.

I don't think what she has is catching, Mom.

Besides I was just thanking her for helping

me save Willie's life.

JONATHAN: All right, everybody, take a bag.

Here you go.

Watch the eggs.

[wistful music]

Excuse me.

The mailman left this in our box by mistake.

Oh, thank you.

From your boys?

Yes.

Thank you.

Peggy lost her little girl last year.

She drowned in the family swimming pool.

Peggy blamed yourself.

She's fighting back, but she's not quite there yet.

[playful music]

[panting] Hold on.

I-- I gotta rest.

I gotta rest.

Come on, Mark.

I mean, we're almost home.

Listen, if I don't sit down, you're gonna take me back

to that house in an ambulance.

You go on.

OK.

[panting] I'm gonna die.

[groaning]

I'm gonna die.

Watch this.

Oh, wow, it's a flamethrower.

No, dummy, it's a catapult. I'm gonna

fry that five-headed dragon.

Ah, you missed.

Well, I'll just make another one.

Wait. Let me try it.

No, after me.

Sweet.

MATTHEW: Come on. Hurry up.

I want a turn.

Whose catapult is this?

Hey, Jerry, look.

Oh no, let's grab the stuff.

Let's get out of here.

[fire crackling]

Hey, you!

What are you doing?

[dramatic music]

- Did they get the fire out? - It's out.

Nobody got hurt.

[deep sigh] Good.

That's good.

Now, Jay, there's a police officer downstairs.

He wants to talk to you.

What about?

Well, someone saw you run away from the fire,

and they think you might have started it.

No, it was those boys, the one across the street

and his friend.

They did it.

Then why'd you run away?

I was scared.

The fire got so big, so fast, it scared me.

But I'm safe here.

I just wanted to get home.

I know.

Look, why don't you come on downstairs

and tell the officer what happened, huh?

Hey, you don't have to be afraid.

There's nothing to be scared of.

Come on.

I'm telling you, Alan, we've got to do

something about those people.

The nut could have burned down the whole neighborhood.

Oh, all right, all right, I'll see you then.

[doorbell ringing]

Mr. Meyers?

What's he doing here?

He ought to be locked up.

Is this the man you saw running from the fire?

There's no doubt about it.

Mr. Meyers, is Jerry home?

What if he is?

So what?

I'd like to speak with him, please.

Jerry, come down here!

What's this all about?

This man claims that your boy and another kid

were in the vacant lot at the same time,

and they could have started the fire.

That's insane!

But what do you expect from a pyromaniac?

Of course he's gonna try and blame somebody else.

Jerry, were you in the vacant lot this afternoon?

No, I-- I was at Matt's house.

He'll tell you.

Satisfied, Officer?

Hey, Jerry, you know, accidents happen.

Couldn't you have started that fire by accident,

and it just got out of hand?

No!

Now, that is all.

I won't have you badgering my boy anymore.

Besides, you got your fire bug.

Put him away.

And while you're at it, close down that cracker

factory over there before the whole neighborhood

goes up in smoke.

[dogs barking, insects chirping]

I believe you, Jay.

Look, we all know it was those two boys.

They're just too afraid to admit it.

Unfortunately, the board is going

to require Jay to undergo psychiatric testing,

just to satisfy the community.

But I didn't do anything.

Jay, I'm sorry.

But until those tests are arranged,

I'm afraid you won't be allowed to leave

the property without a house manager with you.

You mean I have to be guarded like a criminal?

We can't afford to make waves right now.

I didn't do it.

I didn't do it.

I didn't do it.

[dog barking outside]

[puppy whimpering]

A boy named Pete brought him.

Would you like to go downstairs and thank him?

I'll just be a second.

Who's this dress for anyhow?

A lady linebacker?

My mother-in-law, she's very large.

Now, hold still.

I'm just modeling it, OK?

Hey, hey, whatever turns you on.

[chuckles]

Cute, cute.

I told you I owed you a dog.

Well, he's beautiful.

Thank you.

It's my pleasure.

[puppy whimpers]

Come on, will ya?

How long's this going to take?

It'll be just a minute.

Here, hold this.

[opera music plays on stereo]

[volume lowers]

[volume increases]

Will you listen to that?

[opera music blares]

It's 10 o'clock.

The rules prohibit loud music from playing after 10 o'clock.

I'm putting my foot down.

Be careful, Harold.

[doorbell rings]

I'll get it!

[sighs] Yeah?

Oh, it's you.

What do you want?

[whimpers] Run, Martha, run!

Lady, lady!

[dramatic music]

What did I tell you?

I know it was those kids.

I'd like to wring their necks.

Oh, come on.

What good would that do?

It would do me good.

I'll tell you that.

I'd like to pinch their little heads off, one at a time.

SHARON: But it wouldn't solve our problem.

Yeah, I guess you're right.

Sharon, why don't we just forget

our troubles for a while?

Tomorrow's Founders' Day.

The whole neighborhood is gonna have a picnic over in the park.

Why don't we join 'em?

You don't really think we'd be welcome there?

Well, who cares if we're not?

We live here.

We have a right to be there as much as anybody else.

I don't know.

JONATHAN: Oh, come on, Sharon, look, the only way

I know for people to get to know each other

is to bring them together.

And what better place to come together than a picnic?

You know, you're right.

Let's do it.

Oh, that's great.

We'll have, uh, hamburgers, potato salad, and softball,

three-legged races--

I love it.

I got to make a list.

We're gonna need some things at the store.

Hey, you make out the list, I'll pick them up.

SHARON: Thanks!

MARK: Oh, yeah, and stop and get a big jar of olives.

You can't have a picnic without olives.

[chuckles]

Wait till you see this.

What are you doing?

This is a moat.

Watch.

You just take the flaming ball and you hit the dragon's head.

Are you crazy?

You're gonna start a fire.

No, I won't.

That's what the moat's for.

If it bounces off, it'll just go into the water.

Ready, aim, fire!

[sizzles]

Ha, too short.

We've got to hurry up, though.

The dragon's attacking, and he's breathing fire.

MATTHEW: Hurry up, get him!

JERRY: Ready, aim, fire!

[dramatic music]

Oh no!

Come on, let's get some help, man.

[suspenseful music]

JERRY: Help!

Help! Someone help!

Fire!

There's a fire!

Help!

Help, someone, fire!

Fire! Fire!

Fire!

Fire!

It's upstairs!

What's wrong?

House burning.

Oh, not again.

Yeah.

Call the fire department.

Jerry!

Jerry, what's happened?

FIREFIGHTER: It's all right, folks.

There's nothing to worry about.

The fire's out.

What the hell happened?

The boy here was playing with a lighter.

It set some papers on fire and ignited

a plastic bag in the closet.

We found one of these dragons in the lot the other day

after the fire.

We don't know how long it had been there

or where it came from.

JONATHAN: Jerry can tell you.

It's time to tell the truth, son.

[police radio chatter]

You lied to us?

You were in the vacant lot that day?

How did the fire get started, Son?

It was an accident.

We didn't mean to, honest.

But you let somebody else take the blame.

That's the worst part.

Do you realize you could have burned this house?

We could have lost everything.

Oh, thank goodness you put the fire out.

Don't thank us, ma'am.

It was your neighbor.

JONATHAN: It was Jay, Mrs. Meyers.

You remember him.

He's the pyromaniac that lives across the street.

[somber music]

Potato chips, marshmallows-- oh, napkins.

I need to get some napkins.

Are you ready?

I don't think I'll go.

Come on.

Have some fun.

Maybe another time.

DR. GAGE: Peggy?

I'd like to see you out here a minute, please.

Is something wrong?

No.

You've got company.

You didn't think you were going to go out

and have a picnic without us, did you?

Oh, I've missed you.

Oh.

[crying]

I love you.

Hey, everybody, let's go!

Time for a picnic.

Now, don't worry about being crowded.

I brought the wagon.

There's plenty of room for everyone.

Great.

What a perfect day for a picnic.

JONATHAN: Hey, neighbors!

Hey, we'll see you over at the park.

Can you imagine the nerve?

Their taunting us is this what they're doing.

They know perfectly well they're not welcome.

Of course they do.

Well, it's a big park.

We'll just see they keep their distance.

MARTHA: That's right.

We'll just ignore them.

Why should we ignore them?

They're our neighbors.

You've got to be joking.

They're crazy.

[sighs] Aren't we all, sometimes?

- Sally? - Mom's right, Dad.

What?

She's right.

You judged those people without ever knowing them.

They're part of this neighborhood

just like the rest of us.

They should be at the neighborhood picnic.

You were the one who was always trying to tell me

you couldn't stand people who were prejudiced.

Don't blame me now for listening to you.

What's gotten into you letting a boy talk to you like that?

He's not a boy.

And it's none of your business anyway.

Ready?

What's gotten into them?

Those people are the reason that we all have to sell out.

No.

We're the reason.

There's nothing wrong with those people

that getting to know them wouldn't cure.

Well, I'll be damned if I'm going to socialize with them.

In that case, we better not put these things in your wagon.

Come on, let's have a picnic.

As God is my witness, you're going to be sorry!

JONATHAN: God is your witness.

But he's the one who's sorry--

for both of you.

[somber music]

[cars starting]

[theme music]