Original subtitles

♪ [ominous music] ♪

[footsteps]

[phone ringing]

[ringing continues]

Yeah, hello?

Harrison, I don't mean to be a pest, dear,

but your rent is still due.

I know, I'm sorry, I completely forgot to send

the check.

You take credit cards by any chance?

I'm sorry dear.

I can't do that.

As a matter of fact, your last check bounced,

remember?

Yeah, yeah I do.

Thanks for reminding me.

Take care.

By the way dear, is your new suspense novel out in

the bookstores yet?

I can hardly wait to read it.

Ah, no, not yet.

But soon. Thanks for asking.

♪ I could tell just by a single glance ♪

♪ I was headed for a big romance ♪

♪ And I know that we should take a chance ♪

♪ 'Cause I've gotta love you ♪

♪ Yes I'm gonna love you ♪

Hi. Could I have a cup of coffee, please?

Excuse me.

Hi.

I noticed that you weren't having too much luck with

that machine over there.

And well um, I'm done with my newspaper.

I thought you might want it,

'cause you couldn't...here...

Thank you. -Yeah.

I'm Harrison.

Hey poochie.

[barking]

Boogeloo doesn't like men.

Ah.

What do you do?

What do I do?

I'm a writer.

You know a novelist.

Well I read a lot.

Anything I might know?

I write a lot.

You know, I haven't been published yet,

but it's getting close.

Good luck.

Thanks.

[phone rings]

Yeah, Hello?

Harrison, its Melissa.

Melissa?

I thought I'd call before I came over.

[doorbell rings]

Professional courtesy.

How are you?

Melissa, what a surprise.

When's the last time I say you, huh?

What, I haven't seen you since you went to Europe.

Ah, that would be six, seven years ago?

Why now?

I've been thinking of you lately.

Yeah, right.

You must want something.

What is it?

Can we come in?

We?

Come on. -No.

Come on.

Harrison, this is my daughter, Jenny.

Jenny this is an old friend, Harrison.

Here's my card.

It's cute.

Can we come in?

It's a pretty nice place, for you.

Don't tell me you got a job or something.

No, the rent's cheap until it gets sold.

Listen, um.

I have to go away to Canada for a week with a friend.

I'm planning to take the bar there.

The bar?

Legal, attorney bar.

I've been practicing criminal law in California

for three years.

Lately I've become very intrigued with the Canadian

judicial system.

That's great, eh?

Well is it legal for you to practice in Canada?

I have a dual citizenship, remember?

So, um, why do I need to know all this?

I'd like you to take Jenny for me for a week, would you?

What?

You're the only person I trust.

What about your mother?

She's still in Europe, and I've already asked

all my friends.

There's got to be someone else you can call.

I mean your sister, hire a baby-sitter for gods sake.

I mean this is crazy.

Why leave her with a stranger when I know you so well.

Know me so well?

What, are you kidding me?

Where have you been for the last seven years?

It's only for two weeks.

I can't take her up to Canada with me.

Besides, Fred doesn't seem to like children.

Fred? Fred must be charming.

He is charming.

He just doesn't have time for children that's all.

Not like you.

It's not like you have anything better to do now, is it?

Hey, you know, I'm getting really close to having one

of my manuscripts published.

Okay? So just back off.

Well, there you go.

It's perfect.

You work from home. You're your own boss.

What better environment to baby-sit Jenny.

I taught her to do dishes.

Not the paper ones I hope.

Look Melissa, you know I'd like to help you out here,

but I can't. This is crazy.

You didn't give me notice. It's like, no.

Fine.

I'll pay you.

What!

No.

I, I can't...

I can afford it.

You obviously can't afford not to.

It's just for two weeks.

It'll be easy, here.

Nah.

I can't take this.

Yes you can.

Just to make sure there's enough in that account,

I post dated the check.

It'll be good by Friday, I promise you.

Okay, everything she needs is in here. Okay?

I've got a plane to catch. Here's my card.

If you need anything, just page me.

You're a doll.

I know you want to come with me,

but mommy's going to be really busy.

Harrison'll take good care of you, I promise.

You're going to have much more fun here.

Look, Fred's waiting for me.

Remember to brush you teeth and don't drink the tap

water, and make sure Harrison gets you in to bed

by nine o'clock, okay?

I love you honey, and I'll be back soon.

Thanks so much.

I'll call you as soon as I can.

Have fun. -No, but...

Yeah.

Ten minutes, then set the other one up at two forty-five.

Thanks. Okay. I got to go. Right.

I told you honey, we didn't have time for a visit.

I didn't realize it would affect me this way.

Okay.

Well, you either leave her alone in a hotel with a

total stranger while we take care of business or you

leave her with someone that you know and you trust.

Right?

We'll only be gone ten days.

All right?

Besides, I have a cell phone.

Cute.

You want ah, you want to watch some television?

No.

You want to get something to eat?

No.

You want to draw?

So, um, you go to school?

Not in the summer.

What grade are you in?

The first one.

You know, you remind me of this girl down at the coffee shop.

She's pretty talkative too.

Jenny?

Jenny?

Hi.

Shouldn't you, ah be in bed by now?

It's not nine o'clock.

All right. Well, ah, you got ten minutes.

Then you have to go to bed, okay?

So I'm going to give you my bed until I figure out some

sleeping arrangements for you.

You gonna be okay?

All right.

Have you seen my Dodo bird?

You fixed him.

Mmm hmm. I took him to the stuffed animal hospital.

I had him all patched up for you.

You all right?

Harrison? Will you read me a bedtime story?

Yeah, sure.

I don't really have anything that's, you know,

appropriate to read to you, but...

Make it up.

Huh?

You can make it up.

You know, something original.

Hmmm.

Boy, I don't think so, Jenny.

I'm not very good at that.

But, hey, my mom says you're a writer,

you know.

Your mom told you that?

Yeah, but not a very good one.

Uh, all right.

Let me think here.

Okay, There was this large duck,

kinda looked a lot like yours, and um...

He's not a duck, he's a Dodo bird you silly.

Right. Okay. Right.

There was this uh, this uh, bird.

This Mr. Dodo.

You know Dodo birds are extinct, right?

Except for Mr. Dodo. Right?

Right.

So, the um, let's see, the Museum of Exotic Birds,

yeah, hired Professor Bigley to go track

and capture Mr. Dodo.

Don't worry, Mr. Dodo ain't no Dodo.

He just happens to be one of the

smartest birds around...

...he headed down to the jungles of Africa to

bring back the priceless Dodo...

[blows raspberry]

You old enough to read?

Of course I am. You think I'm stupid or something?

No. It's just that I don't hang out

with too many six-year olds.

Comics?

Actually, I prefer the business section.

I like to see how my stocks are doing.

What? -I'm just kidding.

You know her?

Who?

That girl?

No, actually. Why?

You're drooling.

I'm not drooling.

Do you love her?

You're too young to know what love is.

You know that? -I am not.

Oh really? What is it?

This...

Finish your bagel.

So I was thinking that maybe,

you know, after we're done here today,

we could go to the park and play with some dogs and...

sound like fun...

Excuse me.

Are you using this chair?

Oh, no. Go ahead, you can take it.

Here's my card.

What's your name?

My name's Holly.

Hey, where's your mom?

Oh, her.

She's in Canada with her stupid boyfriend.

She just left you here all by yourself?

Oh, don't be silly.

I'm with my friend, Harrison.

Seems kinda old for you don't you think?

Oh, we're not like that.

He's just kinda taking care of me,

you know, until my mom comes back.

If she comes back.

Why wouldn't she come back?

Of course she's going to come back.

So what's her name?

Well, that's Boogeloo.

Hey look at that, she likes you.

Well, what do you do?

Excuse me?

Your job?

How do you support yourself?

Oh, right. Well, I'm a secretary.

You know, typing, computer. Nothing too exciting.

Do you have a boyfriend?

Well why do want to know?

No reason in particular.

Hm, well, no, no, I don't have a boyfriend.

And I don't plan on getting one anytime soon.

You sound bitter.

Yeah, I guess you could say that.

Well, I'd better get going.

It was very nice meeting you, Holly.

Well, it was very nice meeting you too, Jenny.

Since I gave you my card, can you give me yours?

You know, in case I need to ask you any secretary questions.

Okay, I'll give you my card just as long as you promise

you won't give it to anyone else.

Um, I'll call you sometime, we'll do lunch.

Bye. -Bye.

[doorbell rings]

I'm coming. I'm coming.

Morning.

I got a couple more for you here.

Okay, I just need you to sign right there.

Great. Thank you.

My uh, my pen.

Morning.

Yeah.

What's that?

This is a miniature tape recorder.

It's voice activated.

How?

How's it work?

I'm writing the instructional manual for it right now.

But when you turn it on it starts to record when it

hears a sound or someone talking.

Neato.

But why are you writing a manual?

So when people buy it, they know how to work it

properly, that's why.

Why are you doing it?

Because this is how I pay my bills.

This is my part time job.

Is it easy?

It would be easier of someone gave me the

instructions for it.

But that's your job, silly.

I know.

Here. Take it.

Go ahead.

You mean I can keep it?

Uh huh. It's yours.

Wow! Cool!

Press record, right there.

Got it? Then speak into the mike.

Hello, this is Jenny Morrison.

Good morning sunshine.

And raising his oversized tranquilizer dart gun,

Professor Bigley muttered to himself,

"History books, here I come".

Talk louder, Mr. Dodo can't hear you.

Ah, right. Okay.

So then Professor Bigley focused through the cross

hairs of his oversized tranquilizer dart gun.

"This is too easy" he chuckled to himself and he

pulled the trigger...Bang!

The dart shot out, echoing through the dark jungle.

Professor Bigley's smile just disappeared

'cause Mr. Dodo had disappeared too.

He got away.

You bet he did. -How?

That's the amazing thing.

You see Mr. Dodo is a magical bird.

After all, he is the only one of his kind in existence

and the magic of Mother Nature has granted him

special powers to stay alive.

Mr. Dodo's only purpose in life right now is to keep

from becoming extinct.

Jenny: This is the address.

Harrison: Why didn't your mother tell me

about your piano lessons?

She had a lot on her mind.

All right, look, I've got to find a place

to park the car so...

Why?

'Cause I'm coming in with you.

Are you kidding me?

You'll embarrass me.

What?

Oh there's my piano teacher now.

Okay. See ya'. Bye.

Okay. You've got my number, right?

You call me when you're ready to be picked up.

All right. -All right.

Bob Copeland, dial one forty-two.

Bob Copeland, please dial one forty-two.

I'm here to see Holly Anderson.

Okay.

Hello, Mr. Samson's office.

Your daughter is here to see you.

Shall I send her up?

My, my what?

Your little girl.

What do you say your name was again, sweetie?

Jenny. With a "Y".

She says Jenny, with a "Y".

Should I send her up?

Ah, no, no, no. I'll be right down.

How did you get here?

By car.

Oh really. When did you get your license?

Listen I'm so sorry to bother you at work,

but this is really important.

Oh yeah, well I'm sure it must be.

It is. It really is.

Wow, gee.

This is where you work?

It looks like my mom's place, only bigger.

Why Holly, I didn't know you had a daughter.

I, I don't.

I'm just a friend.

From out of town.

Just visiting.

She's adorable.

What's her name?

How old is she?

Ah, I can answer those questions by myself.

Holly is not my interpreter.

My name is Jenny and I am six.

Oh.

Well, I'm very sorry dear.

I really have to go to the convention now.

It was very nice meeting you.

It was nice meeting you to, Mrs. Stevens.

How do you know my name?

You're wearing a name tag.

Oh, of course.

You're quite an unusual child.

Why thank you.

I find you quite unusual also, Mrs. Stevens.

All right Jenny, what's this all about, huh?

How many words a minute can you type?

Oh, is this an interview?

I don't know, I guess about eighty.

Wow.

And you don't even look at the keys now do you?

No, no I suppose I don't.

Any other questions?

Oh yeah, do you remember when I met you

at the coffee shop?

Well yes, yes I do.

Well, do men really come from Mars,

and do us women really come from Venus?

[phone rings]

What took you so long?

Excuse me?

Harrison?

Melissa...?

I'm in Ottawa, it's just beautiful here.

Look I can't take long, I've got a big meeting in Toronto

tomorrow morning.

Ah, great.

I'm glad you're having such a splendid time.

Actually, I was just calling to check on Jenny.

How is she?

Ah, she's great.

She's a, she's a real little angel.

Put her on the phone for me for a minute.

She's not here right now.

Where is she?

She's at her piano lesson.

What piano lesson?

So men and women don't really think alike?

Yeah, basically, that's it.

Well, I guess I'll understand better

when I grow up.

You know, I'm just a kid.

Yeah.

Hey, you want me to ride down with you?

Um, that's okay.

I caused enough trouble today.

You didn't cause any trouble.

Well, bye Holly.

Bye.

My ride's waiting.

Bye, Jenny.

I had another question.

All right, so let me get this straight.

You want me to transcribe this tape?

Exactly.

But there's gonna be more.

Why?

I can't tell you.

I'll pay you to do it, please.

Oh, you're going to pay me, really.

With what, marbles?

I've been saving up my allowance.

It was supposed to go to my college education,

but this is an emergency.

All right.

All right, I tell you what.

You keep your money, you don't have to pay me.

But if I ever need a favor, you owe me, big time.

Deal?

Deal.

Hey, watch it.

Excuse me.

Have you seen a little girl, about this tall?

You want me to walk you to the door?

Oh, that's okay, I have a key.

All right.

Oh, don't forget this.

Okay.

Bye. -Bye.

Yeah?

Thank you for everything.

Bye.

[knocking]

I'm sorry.

You're sorry for what?

You're sorry for lying to me or you're sorry for scaring

me half to death. Where were you?

Hey over here, look at me.

Where were you?

If I don't answer, that means I didn't hear you.

What? Go to your room.

It's not my room.

I said GO.

I'm old enough to know what's right for me.

Oh really.

Why don't you stop acting like an adult,

and start acting like a kid.

Why don't you stop acting like a kid,

and start acting like an adult.

Go to your room.

Get out of here. Move it.

Now. Faster.

[phone rings]

Melissa, everything's fine.

She's in bed.

Nothing to worry about.

Oh ah well, I'm glad to hear it.

Who is this?

I'm sorry.

My name's Miss Anderson.

I drove your daughter home from work today.

Jenny's got a job?

Well, I wouldn't put it past her.

I'm just calling to make sure that she's all right.

Yeah, everything's fine.

I hope she didn't bother you.

Oh no, no, no, not at all.

Your daughter is an amazing person, Mr. ...?

Tyler.

Jenny's not my daughter.

I'm just taking care of her while her mother's

out of town for a while.

What's so funny?

I, I'm sorry, it's just that,

you know, I automatically just assumed that Jenny was

your daughter and all day long people were assuming

that she was my daughter.

So I know exactly how you feel.

Right.

Anyway, it was really nice to talk to you.

How did you come across Jenny anyway?

Hello?

Hello?

[Harrison:] Hey, Jenny. It's me, Mr. Dodo.

Harrison tells me you've been in your room long enough.

I don't want to play.

Come on.

Better hurry.

Where are you?

Harrison: Over here, kid. Don't be afraid.

I'm not afraid, silly.

Whose afraid of a stuffed Dodo, anyway?

Harrison: You got a point there, kid.

So, what'll you have?

How about some hot chocolate?

Where's Harrison?

Well, he's probably around here somewhere.

So, what do ya' say kid?

How about some marshmallows with that hot chocolate, huh?

I love marshmallows.

How come people get mad at each other?

Well, I've never been able to figure that one out.

I think it's because they get really scared. Yeah.

Grown ups get scared too?

Harrison: Of course they do. Everybody gets scared.

And they get mad at each other and they say things

they really don't mean.

Yeah, you're right.

I'm sorry for yelling at Harrison earlier.

Well I'm sure he probably forgives you.

Am I going through a mid-life crisis?

[laughs]

No kid, you have plenty of years ahead of you.

Can I ask you a question?

Sure.

How come I don't have a daddy like my friend Cindy,

and Charlotte and Suzie?

Well, I don't know, kid.

What does your mom say?

She said that Fred, Frederick,

if he asked her to marry her,

he'd be my dad.

Well then I guess you'll have a dad.

But he's not my real dad.

I mean besides he rarely even pays any attention to me.

My mom sometimes doesn't even pay any attention to me.

I like Harrison, he pays a lot of attention to me.

Well, I think it's safe to say I can speak for Harrison

too, and tell you that he loves talking to you also.

I'm jealous.

I'm sorry I made you worry earlier.

I'm sorry I got so angry with you.

I was just upset, you know, you didn't call me

to come pick you up.

All right. Come on.

Harrison: Keep eating cream cheese like that,

you'll be lucky if you reach seven.

Jenny: If you weren't so lazy and you learned how to cook,

you wouldn't have to come here every morning.

I like it here.

Isn't it cheaper to make breakfast at home?

It's so expensive eating out.

Do you want juice or milk, huh?

Chocolate milk.

Okay.

Hey girl.

Hey, how ya' doing?

She's given in to my magical charms.

Hey, look, I um, I just want to be up front with you, okay?

I see you here everyday and I just,

I just really want to talk to you, that's all.

My dog seems to have accepted you.

Yeah, you know, you know I see you here everyday

by yourself, you're always reading a different book,

and well me being a writer, I thought we could talk.

So, what do you write?

Well, mystery, suspense, you know,

pretty eclectic stuff.

I just try to write something that's commercial.

Oh write and make a lot of money?

That would be nice, yeah.

Why don't you write something you care about?

Oh I'm not sure what I care about would be of any

interest to anyone else.

It won't sell, you know.

Well, whatever makes you happy.

Oh, I always forget to take these with food.

I actually have an iron deficiency.

Really?

Yeah, my shirts are always wrinkled.

So does that usually work with all the girls?

No.

Just the ones down at the laundromat.

I, I got to go.

I got to get to work.

Come on Boogeloo.

Bye.

It was nice to talk to you again.

Come on.

Jenny: How come people who like each other avoid each other?

Harrison: I don't know.

I guess people are just afraid to show their true emotions.

Everybody has a comfort zone.

You know, meaning that they're comfortable just

where they are, just how they are, you know.

And once you leave that lifestyle,

well, they're leaving their comfort zone,

they're afraid to show how they feel.

Are you afraid to show me how you feel?

About what?

Well, do you like me enough that you would want me to

stay with you?

Yeah, I like you enough that I want you to stay with

me, but you can't.

But I have fun with you.

My mom doesn't have time to play with me.

I'm just a friend of your mother's, you know.

I have no legal right to you whatsoever.

Well then, adopt me.

Adopt you?

I can't even take care of myself.

What makes you think I can take care of you?

Well, I can take care of you and I'll adopt you.

Well, I'm not sure that's a possibility,

but tell you what, I'll look into it.

[phone rings]

Hello?

Melissa: Hi. It's me, Harrison.

Oh, hey.

Is Jenny in bed?

Yeah, she is.

As a reminder, she has no piano lessons,

as a matter of fact she has no lessons at all.

Don't fall for that one again, Harrison.

It was just a misunderstanding, all right?

How are things up north?

Pretty good.

I've been admitted to the bar.

Hey, I'll drink to that.

You know, your incisive humor never ceases to astound me.

Listen, I have a favor to ask of you.

What's that?

There's an excellent school up here that I want to

enroll Jenny in.

Academically it's perfect for her,

and it's private.

But I need you to pick up her passport.

She needs a passport?

The school requires it for foreign students.

I applied for it before I left so it should be ready.

What I need you to do is fax me a copy up here.

Yeah, sure, no problem.

Um, there's something I need to ask you.

Sure Harrison.

But listen, make it fast.

I'm at the airport.

I'm, ah flying to Philadelphia to meet with

Fred and a client.

Look, Jenny and I are getting along great and she

really likes it here...

That's nice Harrison, but listen,

they just called my flight.

We'll talk about this when I get back is that okay?

Bye.

No, but is has, has to do with,

maybe...hello?

Melissa?

Harrison: This it?

Jenny: Yep.

Harrison: Yeah. You want me to go in with you?

No, that's okay.

Holly knows I coming.

You know, I want to meet this friend of yours.

This Holly, sometime.

I'm sure you would.

I mean, if she's one of your friends,

I'm sure she's really a nice girl, right?

She's just afraid of men.

You'd only scare her.

Okay, okay. Look, I'll pick you up here at 6.

Oh well, that's okay, Holly can drive me...I mean,

Holly's parents can drive me?

No. You don't understand.

I'll pick you up here at six.

We're not going to have a repeat of what happened last time.

Okay? -Okay.

Have fun. -All right.

[Harrison, on tape:] Give me those graham crackers.

Mr. Dodo was very angry.

So he flapped his wings...

Wow.

You really do type fast.

[laughs]

You know, this guy's pretty funny.

You know he really gets into this stuff.

Yeah, you should see him when he acts like Mr. Dodo.

His stories are so great.

He makes them up as he goes along.

Yeah. So what's he going to do with them?

Nothing. He spends his time writing other stories

on his typewriter.

Boring stuff.

Oh well then it was a very good idea that we get these

down on paper.

Did you ever want to get married?

Ah yeah, yeah I did.

Why? Did you want to get married?

Well, there was this boy in kindergarten named Cory.

We talked about marriage, but,

his dad said we had to wait until Cory

stopped wetting the bed.

Oh, well, I guess that does seem pretty sensible.

Besides, he ate the finger paints.

That's really gross.

Why didn't you get married?

Pretty much the same reason.

Actually, it's like this long dull story and I'm not

going to bore you with it.

Is it a sad story?

Well, let's just say he's not exactly what he appeared to be.

[Harrison, on tape:] and so it rained graham crackers

all night, and Mr. Dodo got his bedtime snack after all.

I have an idea.

How would you like some graham crackers.

Yeah.

Is this the mother's maiden name?

Morrison, that's correct.

Oh ho. Your daughter is adorable.

Her photo turned out very well.

I'm not her father.

Oh now, I must have you to sign that receipt form,

and, and here's a copy of her birth certificate,

you can have that back now.

Oh, I also must see a copy of your driver's license,

Mr. Tyler. Just to confirm that you really are her father,

after all we can't be giving out passports to

just anyone these days.

I'm not her father.

How do you know my name?

Well is all the information on the birth

certificate correct for the child?

Is anything wrong?

[phone ringing]

Hello?

Harrison: Just when were you planning to tell me

that she's my daughter? Hmm?

How did you...oh, the birth certificate.

Look, I would have found out sooner or later.

I never asked you for a nickel in child support.

You know what?

With you it's always about the money, Melissa.

What this child needs has nothing to do with money.

Just a minute.

Listen, I am deeply touched that you have now decided

to start being a father.

But you listen to me, Harrison,

I have been both mother and father to that little girl

for the first six years of her life.

I did it without your help,

and I can continue to do so, now.

Maybe if you'd been financially responsible.

If you even attempted to get a real job...maybe I would

have told you about her then.

You see what I'm saying.

It's all about the money with you Melissa.

Yes, yes it is.

Wake up Harrison.

I am working very hard to make a living so that I can

send my daughter to one of the best schools

in North America.

I am going to see to it that Jenny gets

a good start in life.

Look, I can't discuss this right now.

I will be picking Jenny up a week from Thursday.

Good-bye Harrison.

[phone rings]

Yeah.

Harrison. It's Mrs. Olend again.

I need you to pay the rent, in cash,

no later than next Thursday,

Or I have a very nice young man who's ready

to move in to your place.

Mornin' .

Morning, sleepyhead.

Want some juice?

I'll get it.

Do you want some?

Yeah. Thanks.

Your mom called last night.

And she didn't want to talk to me?

Nah, she said that she was in a rush.

You know if she had time, then she'd...

That's okay.

I know how she is.

Yeah.

She um, she's coming to pick you up next Thursday.

But I was really starting to like it here.

I know, I was getting used to having you here too.

But, you know, she's your mom and...I'm just...

...my dad.

You know?

How do you know?

I overheard it on the phone last night.

Now I know why I love you.

And so he pulled apart the bars of the cage with his

powerful wings...

Keep going.

...and he flew up to the top of the trees.

Dodo's can't fly, daddy.

Right, okay, so he climbed to the top of the trees and

when he got to the top, he pulled out his binoculars

and he scanned the distant horizon,

but there was no one there.

He seemed to be all alone once again.

Jenny: It must be lonely being a Dodo.

Harrison: He wasn't alone for long.

You see Professor Bigley was on his trail.

And as he cautiously approached the deep,

dark shadows of the jungle trail,

Professor Bigley couldn't help but consider the

consequences of his trek through the most dangerous

world of all.

And there, after cutting through the thicket of the

jungle foliage, Professor Bigley spots his prize,

the famous, and until now, believed to be extinct,

Dodo bird.

Jenny: I don't want to go next week.

Why can't I stay with you?

Harrison: Umm. Well, Jenny.

I'd need to support both of us.

Jenny: But you can.

Harrison: So far I can't.

You know, I owe taxes on my taxes.

Jenny: You don't believe you can write do you?

Why are you always working?

Because, eventually I'm going to get this,

this inspiration and this great idea is just going to

happen, and I'm going to write it down and I'm going

to sell it and I'm going to make a lot of money and

become famous and rich, and then you can come stay with me.

How's that?

How do you come up with this great idea when you are

always so uptight?

What if you didn't try so hard?

Don't weeds grow whether you want them to or not?

Sometimes the more you don't want them to,

they just keep growing.

I know, my mom tries everything to try to kill

them, they just keep growing.

Just see things the way they are.

Why complicate them?

Do your puzzle.

It looks like your little friend is late.

Well maybe we can do a few laps.

She said she was coming straight from work.

Harrison: Work? I thought you said she was

in the first grade with you?

Oh, I mean, um, homework.

Yeah.

Goggles on?

I can't wait until I can go on one of these by myself.

Harrison: Yeah well, you know what, don't speed it up.

You have plenty of time.

Co-pilot ready?

All system go, dude.

Fire it up, man.

Yaaah.

♪ [rock music] ♪

Hey, no hands.

Go. Go. Go.

Goggles off, co-pilot.

Hey. I'm Holly, Hi.

Harrison: Who's that?

Jenny: That's my friend.

She's awfully big for her age.

Go. Go. Go. Go.

Jenny: Hey.

Jenny: I think you only made her mad.

What are those idiots doing?

Hey! Come back with my carts. Hey!

Jenny: Look out!

Yeah.

Just what do you think you're trying to pull wise guy.

Do you know what those things cost?

Ah, relax, Bob.

We're just having some fun.

Yeah, right.

You wanna drive like that, get off my track.

And you, Maria Andretti.

Listen toots.

I see you driving like that, I'll make sure they revoke

your license.

You two oughta' be ashamed of yourselves.

What kind of example are you setting for that kid?

Yeah. What kind of example are you setting for me, anyway?

Ah, chill out Bob.

Just give us the bill.

I'll pay for hers, huh?

You want to get some ice cream, Holly? Come on.

Holly?

Holly?

Harrison: I have no legal right to you whatsoever.

Jenny: Then adopt me.

Harrison: Adopt you?

I can't even take care of myself.

What makes you think I can take care of you?

Jenny: Well, I can take care of you and I'll adopt you.

So if we have almost a week,

that's enough time for you to find a real job,

and then I can stay.

I wish it were that easy.

Excuse me.

I thought you might like to have this.

So do you have a go-carting license?

That was you?

Yep.

Fooled you.

Oooo you.

If you ever do that to me again,

I promise I'll strand you on a deserted island.

Hey we had fun.

You didn't tell me you were trying to set us up.

You didn't ask.

Oh, look.

A coupon for miniature golf.

You're really sweet on him, aren't you?

You're really pushy, aren't you?

Yeah. -Yeah.

[laughing] What's so funny?

Nothing. -Nothing.

Shoot your ball. -Talking about me again?

Oh please. Don't be so vain.

Just shoot.

Shhhh. Shhhh. Shhhh. Quiet.

Oh, I'm still winning.

You shouldn't... wait, wait, wait. It's not over yet.

Red ball.

Side pocket.

Very nice.

That's not red.

It's orange.

I admit it.

I get my oranges and reds mixed up.

That's funny. I thought it was red, too.

You're both color blind.

But I'm still champion.

You're the champion?

I'm the champion. -No, you're not.

I think you missed that one on purpose.

What? Are you kidding me?

I don't miss anything on purpose.

You missed yours on purpose.

Last one to the next hole is a rotten egg.

So everyone in the office is looking at me like I'm

completely out of my mind.

Turns out I'm having a reaction to the dose of

Niacin in my new vitamins.

You were turning lobster red, right?

Yeah.

Same thing happened to me when I was twelve.

I thought I was going to explode.

Oh God, it's awful.

It's like you were wearing this wool sweater and it is

itching you and you just can't get it off.

Harrison: Exactly. Exactly.

So, how long have you been a secretary?

Holly: Oh God, I don't know. It seems like forever.

Is it challenging enough?

Hey, I type eighty words a minute,

I know Mac, DOS, Wordperfect,

what are you talking about?

Do, do you ever get lonely?

Oh well, that's funny coming from you.

What do you do all day, huh?

Day in day out, hour upon hour,

you're just sitting at your typewriter,

typing away at your novel.

Yeah, I guess you're right.

Besides, I happen to be very independent.

I don't need to be with somebody or around somebody

to feel complete.

I admire you for that.

You do?

It says a lot about you.

The stranger...walked down the beach.

She had long flowing blonde hair and she was mysterious.

She had dark blue eyes, as blue as the ocean.

Man this is really bad.

She's pretty neat, huh?

Who?

Holly. You really like her, don't you.

Yeah, I guess I do.

You didn't open you mail today.

Nah, it's probably just bills and manuscript rejections.

Can I open this one?

Yeah, knock yourself out.

Dear Sir...

Stop right there.

I was really counting on this one. Yeah.

Why don't you just, um, why don't you go tack it up with

the other ones over there, huh.

Why do you keep these if they don't say good things?

It's only a piece of paper.

You know, I'd like to see Holly again.

Why don't you call her?

And what if she says she's busy?

Get over it.

You're afraid of everything, aren't you?

Look there it is.

The rim of the world.

So how did you meet her mom?

How?

She and I went to high school together.

I was a freshman, she was a senior.

It was doomed from the start,

but we made it work for a while.

We almost got married, then we ended up breaking up

six, seven years ago.

She was way too serious.

She never laughed at any of my jokes.

Well I've never heard you say anything funny.

Hey.

It's gotta be pretty strange for you.

I mean all of a sudden somebody tells you

"hey you have a daughter".

Yeah.

I don't understand how she could keep something like

that for you.

I don't know. I guess, I don't think she thought

I'd be a responsible father.

I'm not the type to get a regular job and she knew it.

Well what, she didn't, she didn't believe in your writing?

Nah.

She thought I was playing with it, you know.

She didn't know I was really serious about it.

That I really loved it, you know.

I am going to make it.

Oh, I bet you are.

I mean, I, I think a lot of your stuff is really funny.

Oh right.

Like you've read anything I've written.

Unless of course you saw those two articles in

"The Progressive Farmer" last year but...

Yeah, yeah that's it.

I happen to have a lifetime subscription, see.

Right. Right.

Boo!

Hey pumpkin.

You watching the movie?

Not when I'm blinking.

So, when's that monster coming up?

Mrs. Olend? Not 'til next Tuesday.

Not the landlady.

What monster are you talking about?

I told her this was a Godzilla flick.

Harrison...

Yeah.

Nothing.

Just um, let's watch the movie.

Okay.

Well, I guess chivalry's not dead.

Nope, not yet.

I'm going to walk you to the front door.

Oh no.

I mean you really shouldn't leave Jenny in the car

by herself.

She's okay. She's okay.

Just, just a minute, just to see you to your door.

I, I like you, Harrison.

I really do.

...but you just want to be friends.

No.

No?

It's just that we're rapidly becoming so much

more than that, see.

That's, that's, that's the thing.

Yeah, well, give it a chance, Holly.

I mean, just because we're becoming friends doesn't

mean we...

I just really like my space, you know.

And I'm, I'm beginning t get so comfortable with you.

I'm really starting to trust you, you know.

I haven't been able to do that in a really long time.

I'm not asking you for anything.

It's just you're so good with Jenny, you know.

You are, it says so much about you.

I don't even know what her mother is talking about.

I mean, I have faith in your abilities,

you just have to have faith in you.

Thanks.

God Harrison. It's not you.

It's really not you. It's me.

It's just that I've been burned before, you know.

I just, I don't want to stick my hand in the fire.

I just can't.

You can't go through life being afraid, Holly.

Maybe you can just give me a little more time.

It's the best I can do.

Yeah.

What are you doing?

Reading the classifieds.

What's the classifieds?

I'm looking for a job.

I thought you had a job?

A full-time job.

But don't you get paid for writing your stories?

No one seems to want them.

Well, what about your instruction booklets?

I can't figure those out either.

I'll help you.

Oh, I think this one fits.

Oh, yeah. You're right.

What's the number on the back of the white one.

Twenty-six B.

And how about the brown one, the black one.

Twenty-six A.

All right, nice.

How many pieces do we have left?

About eight.

Eight? That's not so bad.

So, why was it we were doing this again?

Well someone's got to write the instructional manual

that figures out how to assemble these things, right?

Wait. I figure if this one goes over here...

You see this is what I don't understand.

I have the diagram but this piece

doesn't fit into this piece.

Why don't you try turning it around?

That's not going to work.

I think we got it.

Plug it in.

See if it works.

All right.

Wow, it works.

Yeah but, ah, it's not supposed to do that.

Where's the off switch?

What?

Here it is.

Holly: Yeah, you're absolutely right,

Harrison is a great storyteller.

Here, why don't you hold this, for luck.

Okay. -Now, you're sure that's

the right address? -Yeah.

I copied it from one of his other envelopes.

All right now.

I weighed it at the office to make sure we had enough

postage, so...

Okay.

Why don't you call him?

Well, Jenny, it's not that simple.

You know.

He misses you.

Look, I can't explain it to you, you know.

You wouldn't understand.

But you miss him too, don't you.

Don't you!

Come on, Jenny. Come on.

Air mail.

Mr. Dodo, now you can fly.

Harrison?

Dad?

Melissa: Come on Harrison.

You can't even support yourself.

Mom?

Honey. Hi, come here.

You look like you have grown an inch.

You weren't suppose to come here until next week.

We didn't have enough time.

Time for what.

Fred and I came back a week early.

We're going to take you up to Canada with us.

What about Harrison?

I'm sorry, honey. There's nothing I can do.

But you're my daddy!

Come with me and no arguing.

Don't make this difficult.

No! Harrison! Daddy! No...

We're going up to Canada.

I don't want to go.

Well, Mr. Tyler, in order for you to even consider

serving her with custody papers,

you've got to be able to show that you're

financially stable.

What's the definition of financially stable?

Well, that you can comfortably pay your bills

and support the child for the time you have her.

How much is that going to cost?

Well, Mr. Tyler, it's not cheap.

If you want to have her in your full custody,

you'll also be responsible for putting her

through school.

Look, it's got to be full custody, okay.

The visitation rights to and from Canada are going to

cost more that her college education alone.

I would suggest that you keep me informed

on your job search.

Until then, we're wasting each other's time.

Thank's for your time Mr. Sullivan.

I'm sorry Mr. Tyler.

I know this must be difficult for you.

Sometimes you do need money to buy happiness.

This guy writes nothing but pulp novels.

We haven't got a market for that right now.

Mr. O'Donnell.

This is a package I forgot to give you.

It's from Mr. Tyler.

Okay.

Another gimmick.

"Mr. Dodo Rings the Bell".

Probably a murder mystery for children.

[chuckling]

Hey, this is funny.

Maybe we could use this in our kids' department.

Send this down to Monica.

I want to get her opinion on this.

And Clare, get this Harrison what-his-name on the horn

for me, will ya'.

[phone ringing]

Mr. Tyler, I've reviewed your application.

Very impressive...

Mommy's not planning a trip here anytime soon and,

ah I can't leave here right now.

Yeah, I hope I see you too.

Yeah, real soon...

Yeah, I miss you too...

I love you, lots.

Okay.

Bye.

[phone rings]

[Answering machine:] Hi. I'm not around, leave a message.

Harrison: Holly, Harrison.

Since you won't let me see you I want to read this poem

I wrote for you.

I've written stories before but never a poem so please

bear with me.

All right, here goes-- Our first time together,

it was special with you, I can't help recalling,

must be déjà vu.

The first time we met, I felt the impaction,

my blood started pumping, like a niacin reaction.

Something special between us,

too early to define, it's delicate and precious,

like a fine rare wine.

I stare deep into your soul, through your crystal blue

eyes, I see a vision of beauty,

and a woman who's wise.

A beautiful rainbow, you're one of a kind,

we look at the spectrum, too bad we're both colorblind.

Thanks, bye.

♪ I went looking for love ♪

♪ Never found it ♪

♪ All the time you were right in front of me ♪

♪ Seems I always took love a little lightly ♪

♪ Ooh you held such a big part of me ♪

♪ In those nights I dream that I hold you ♪

♪ I can feel you breathing sometimes ♪

♪ Without you it's always so cold here ♪

♪ Without you there ain't no summertime ♪

Hey.

Hi.

Oh, that's great, Peter.

Maybe, maybe round out his beak a little more.

Let's try to make him as esthetically cute

as possible.

How about adding that stitching on his side,

adds a nice touch.

Hey, let's give him a Cuban cigar.

Hey, just kidding.

Three more boxes in the bedroom,

and I am done.

So, your landlady won't give you any more time?

She found a buyer.

Well, where are you gonna' go?

I don't know.

I'll figure that out when I get there.

You know, um, if you want, Harrison,

you can stay with me.

I mean, for a little while.

Okay, thanks.

I really miss her.

I know you do.

I really miss her too, you know.

She brought out a side of me I never knew I had.

Yeah.

If it weren't for her I probably would have never

let my guard down.

I wanted to talk to you so bad.

Yeah, well, you gave up way too easy.

Now Jenny, on the other hand,

she wouldn't take no for an answer.

No way.

She was so stubborn.

[phone rings]

I'll get it. -No, no, no I'll get it.

Okay.

Hello?

Hello?

Who was it?

Ah, I don't know.

Someone's have a party.

Just a crank call I guess.

[phone rings]

Hello.

Ah, Mr. Tyler.

Yeah, yeah he's right here.

Hold on a second.

It's for you.

Who is it?

Who's calling, please?

Tell him it's a friend of Mr. Dodo's.

He says "a friend of Mr. Dodo's"...?

A friend of Mr. Dodo's?

What is this, some kind of a crank?

How do you know Mr. Dodo?

Hello? Who is this?

Harrison, Mr. Tyler.

Dan O'Donnell. O'Donnell Publishing.

I have a message for you.

Uh huh. What is it?

That detective manuscript you sent me...

Oh. Right, that.

It stinks.

Look, I haven't submitted anything to your publishing

house in a long time, okay.

Yeah, I got your rejection for "Time Kills" and that

was about...

Ah, we sent a package...

Oh and that recent novel "Terror by Night" really

does suck, Mr. Tyler.

But, I love "Mr. Dodo Rings the Bell",

"Mr. Dodo's Go-Cart Day" and "Mr. Dodo's Hole in One".

Ah, Mr. O'Donnell...

Call me Dan.

I'm not sure what to say, Dan.

Just promise me you'll write four more to complete

the series and I'll express the contracts overnight.

Oh and Harrison I see Saturday morning cartoons, too.

Yeah, me too.

Okay.

All right, I'll get back to you.

Thanks.

See, um.

Well, well, Jenny, she just...

Right.

...and I just typed it up, and...

Right.

Hey, I'm getting published.

Hey.

Oh, we've got to call Jenny.

No, no, no.

Let's not call her yet.

I don't want to disappoint her in case it doesn't work out.

Okay.

You're pretty sneaky.

Yeah.

Mommy.

Can I get a book too?

Just one, dear.

Anything?

Something educational.

Mommy, mommy, look.

Whoa.

Mom, look it's Mr. Dodo.

And Mr. Tyler has asked that the court consider his

request for full custody of his only child,

Jenny Morrison.

Your honor, if I may.

I would like to make the court be aware that though

Mr. Tyler may be perfectly capable of supporting little

Jenny now, he was not in the child's life

for the first six years.

Objection.

Sustained.

This child needs her mother, your honor.

The mother that brought her up,

the mother that took care of her,

and the mother that understands what her

little girl needs.

Mr. Tyler has absolutely no experience as a father.

None.

Your honor, if I may.

Mr. Tyler was not aware that he even had a daughter until

he accidentally came across her birth certificate at the

passport office.

Is this true?

Yes, your honor.

Melissa Morrison deliberately withheld this

important fact of Jenny's existence from him,

and was going to continue to do so.

Objection, your honor.

Denied.

Thank you Mr. Tyler.

By the way, my granddaughter loves

"Mr. Dudu Joins the Circus".

Mr. Tyler, isn't it true that while Jenny Morrison was

under your supervision, that she went missing for several

hours without you knowing her whereabouts?

She told me she had a piano lesson.

A piano lesson.

Yeah.

I'm confused. You simple believed her?

I didn't know what to believe.

I had only known her for a couple of days.

Exactly.

You see Mr. Tyler you know nothing about this little girl.

Yet you were her father.

Objection.

Sustained.

That's all, your honor. -No, no, no, no, no, no.

At the time I didn't know I was Jenny's father.

Melissa just apparently forgot to mention it, huh.

Kinda' slip your mind, is that it? Huh?

All right.

Let's behave like adults please.

We have to remember that we're here to resolve the

situation in the child's best interest.

Your honor, I'm not saying Melissa is a bad mother.

But what I am saying is that it's disruptive to take a

child to another country.

And not only is it disruptive,

it makes my visitation rights virtually impossible.

Jenny was the best thing

that ever happened to me.

That little girl was always so optimistic,

she always had a smile on her face.

And she was truly happy when we were together.

I loved that little girl as much as any father has ever

loved his little girl.

I can afford to support her financially now.

That's not a problem.

But money, money doesn't mean anything to a child.

I mean, most of the things we did,

we didn't spend money.

I just wanted the best for her.

I mean, I can afford to send her to the best schools now,

I can afford the best health care,

that's a bonus.

But my love for this child has nothing to do with money.

May I help you?

I'd like to speak to the judge.

One moment please.

Apparently we have a visitor.

If it's all right with the court,

I will see her in.

Thank you young lady.

I'm sorry we cannot allow you to stay in the courtroom.

You are a cutie!

Thank you my honor.

Please show to counsel.

Since the defense has not objected to the reading of

this letter, I will therefore present it for the

record as the child's statement.

It would be nice...

You'll pardon my smile, but, the spelling is not quite,

well, the spelling is unique.

It would be nice if you can read my letter out loud.

I love my mommy terribly, but she doesn't have time to

play with me like my daddy does.

My mommy is like my mommy, my daddy,

Harrison, is like my best friend.

Whatever decision you make Mr. Judge,

I know it will be the best decision.

I just don't want anybody angry at each other.

Do you like candy tarts?

I hope you do because I have put some in here.

Here is my card, is in here too, from Jenny Morrison.

Mr. Tyler.

It is apparent that you are more than qualified to

support Jennifer and to provide her with the best

education that money can buy.

However, Ms. Morrison seems also to be quite capable of

supporting her daughter.

This situation is very difficult,

when a child has to be placed with one parent

or the other.

I will have to rule that the little girl resides with her

mother, as the custodial parent,

in Canada.

As non-custodial parent, Mr. Tyler has full visitation

rights granted by the court.

And since the custodial parent and child are quite a

distance away in their relocation,

Mr. Tyler is entitled to extended holiday visits

if he so desires.

Apparently money doesn't buy happiness, huh.

I'm sorry, Mr. Tyler.

Court will now recess for fifteen minutes and resume

with the Maxwell versus Delman case.

...almost three thousand miles away.

This is the next best thing.

It's like looking into a window,

far, far away.

You're right. It's like a magical window.

I told you not to call.

I gotta' go.

Okay.

I love you.

I love you too, honey.

[man laughing]

You think that's good, listen to this.

Then he turns the car around and drives right through it...

Turn it off, honey. It's past your bedtime.

Now our next guest is having quite an impact

around our house with our little daughter, Liberty.

And maybe if you have some munchkins around your house

the same things happening.

It's happening all over the country.

Now you probably won't recognize him,

but you will certainly recognize this face.

Mommy, mommy! Daddy's on TV!

Are you using that video phone again?

I told you it's not a toy.

...Mr. Harrison Tyler!

Welcome. Nice to have you aboard.

Dodo of course. Not Dudu.

Well tell me, how does a guy who starts out being a

myster writer end up writing children's books?

Well Casey, if it weren't for my daughter,

Jenny, then there would not be a Mr. Dodo today.

-Is that right? -Yeah.

-How old is Jenny?

Jenny is six years old. Very, very special.

-Now why wouldn't there be a Mr. Dodo today?

Well, Jenny was a great inspiration to me.

She, ah she taught me to never give up.

She taught me to believe in myself and my writing.

To trust myself and she especially taught me to get

back in to touch with that inner child that I thought

I lost forever.

Oh my goodness. How old is she?

She's six and I love her to death.

If she were watching right now,

what would you say to her.

Oh she's probably not up at this hour but if she is,

I just, I want her to know I love her

and I miss her very much.

Your father's right.

You shouldn't be up at this hour.

Go to bed.

Wasn't daddy great!

I told you to go to bed.

I want to finish my puzzle.

I am your mother and I have just told you to go to bed.

Now I am sick of you talking back to me and I am sick of

this stupid Mr. Dodo.

I hate you!

[crying]

Now getting back to these, these stories.

What's the first one you ever wrote?

[phone rings]

Yep, this is Harrison.

It's Melissa.

I thought I'd call before I come over.

Melissa.

Can we come in.

We?

Hey, pumpkin.

What's this about?

I was wrong, Harrison.

You're the best father in the world.

Why now?

For weeks after the hearing,

I couldn't sleep.

My conscience kept telling me I'd made a mistake.

You mean I can keep...?

I want Jenny to live with you.

She needs a stable upbringing and my lifestyle

isn't stable.

Jenny's not really happy.

I'd be a better mother if I just didn't get in the way.

Thank you.

Hi.

This is Jenny.

Hi.

Hi.

What's your name?

♪ [No More Searching by Dick Maloney] ♪