Original subtitles

something about Uncle Bill?

Negative.

Well, we wondered how come Uncle Bill's walking around in there.

Yeah, he sits down and gets up and sits down and jumps. He looks like he's going

to yell at somebody.

Only there's nobody in there to yell at.

Your Uncle Bill's just getting restless.

What's a restless?

I think it's when you're in school.

And you think Reese's is never going to get there.

Precisely. And that is also akin to what I feel when two children come charging

into my kitchen asking non -sequitur questions during my preparation of Crepe

Suzette.

of which I'm unaware, sir.

No, no, I just thought... Well, never mind.

I think we'd better go somewhere else than this kitchen.

Yeah, everybody's restless.

But it was your idea, Bill.

Now, I hate to throw quotes after a person. However, you said, and I

I think it would be a good idea if I spent three months or so here in the

office. And then you said, I can do a better job in the field if I know what

problems are here at home. And you also said... I know what I said, and I was

wrong.

If I stay around here another three months, I'll get barnacles.

What about that Great Valley job in Kuala Lumpur? When's that start?

After the rains.

You know, you better face it.

There's not a thing going on in the field right now.

Yeah? There's a man out here who says to tell you bare feet make the best shoes.

He said you'd understand.

I haven't got time for practical jokes now.

Why don't you go upstate and dig a trench in a vacant lot if you're so

Or buy a dartboard for the office.

Sometimes I'm glad I'm blessed with quiet blood that doesn't care much

going on.

Dave McCovey?

Ennis West, did you let that man get away? The one that said the thing about

bare feet making the best shoes?

Nobody gets rid of Dave McCovey that easy.

Billy Boy, how...

What do you say, pal? What's that? What's that? Well, it's a couple of

potatoes here and there.

You look the same.

Except, uh, well, this ain't you.

Well, you don't know how right you are there.

Well, what are you doing? You got any plans?

Real loose. Uh, but there is one thing I want to talk to you about.

What's on your mind?

Well, I'm, uh, I'm building a pipeline and I'm having trouble. Where are you

building it?

Mexico, Yucatan, about 200 miles south of a place called Puerto Verde.

And, uh... Thing is that I've had about three different geologists down there.

I see you don't need that many men down in that gorge. You can put some of them

up on the ridge.

Right. You still have the right touch, Bill.

Boy, this is the first time I've been anywhere near schedule since I started

this job.

And you go around that shale, see? You go around it. Take care of all your big

problems. I guess we're beginning to see daylight.

Now, come on, relax.

Now, sit down. You had your head buried in this thing for three weeks. Come on,

sit down. You want a cup of coffee? Yeah.

Oh, Esteban.

Gracias, amigo.

Civilization has finally found us.

Oh, there's nothing.

Contract. Bills. Don't need that.

Here's something in pretty purple. It's for you.

Hey. It's from the kids.

You know, I like your attitude about your family.

You love them, but you don't get tied down. You let French handle...

It's not bad news, is it?

Jody's turtle died.

Dear Uncle Bill, Alexander quit walking or swimming or eating. French says he's

dead. I cried.

Buffy.

P .S. I didn't, Jody.

P .S. He did too, Buffy.

We like it better when you're here with us.

I love me and Buffy.

That's a great letter. Now, if this shale extends through here, we're going

have trouble on the next ridge.

I guess Sissy must have helped him with the spelling.

Yeah, well, she's a big girl.

Now, what I want to know is, are we going to have to take tests on this

Right here.

No.

Tests? Are we going to have to take tests? Yeah, yeah, we're going to have

make tests. Now, we can't be sure of anything until we check it out, so...

We better do the test ourselves.

Look, I have an idea. Why don't you call the kids?

No.

Save about 15 cents in stamps.

Come on, come on.

Hello, hello.

Operator, we want to talk to New York City.

Davis residence.

Mr. Davis, sir.

How splendid that you should call.

Well, I got the kid's letter and I thought I'd better call and see how you

are.

We're proceeding well, sir.

You, of course, were told of the demise of Alexander.

Yes, sir. He was laid to rest with considerable pump at the foot of the

farm.

Well, you tell the kids I'll get him another turtle when I come home.

How's everything else?

Well, sis is in bed with a cold, sir.

She's in bed?

Oh, yes, sir, but nothing to be alarmed about. A simple head cold. She'll be

back in school tomorrow.

You kept her out of school?

Well, yes, sir. The doctor suggested it. You had her call a doctor?

Just a simple precaution, sir.

Sis is fine.

Yes, sir, and the twins are still in school.

No need to worry. You may continue with your project, sir. Quite secure in the

knowledge. that I'll be looking after the children and all their wants.

Well, uh, just give them my love, then, and tell them I'll be back in a couple

of weeks, okay?

Right. Bye -bye.

Okay? Okay.

Now, they say we gotta run these tests, we gotta do it ourselves.

visit each other when they get older.

How long is older?

When you're my age.

Where's Mr. French?

Taking a nap.

Oh, well, he knows I'm going to stay with Kathy for a few days. He knows the

number. So I may as well go ahead.

Bye -bye, Buffy.

Is it okay if I write a letter to Uncle Bill?

Oh, sure.

But be sure to have Mr. French correct the spelling. Bye -bye, Buffy.

Did Van get here with the mail?

No. Should he?

Yeah, every other day.

Because he couldn't get through.

I don't think the telephone lines are out, just the roads.

I don't want to call home anyway.

I want to find out if Sissy's okay.

Well, is this the same guy who back in Korea wouldn't lie down for five minutes

when he had malaria?

That you, Buffy?

Me too, Uncle Bill.

He's on the other phone.

Good.

How's Sissy?

She's okay.

Oh, fine. Everything going all right, is it?

Sure. That's good. How's French?

He's okay, except we think he has the fly.

The flu.

He's got the flu?

Yeah, only it's all right, because we're taking care of him.

You get Sissy on the phone, you hear? Quick.

She's not here, Uncle Bill.

Don't worry, Uncle Bill. I think I'll go now.

Yeah, we gotta make Mr. French some tea.

you meant well, but really, sloshing damp rags on a chap when he's down, I

that's not cricket.

It's for your fever.

I use it on television.

But I don't have a fever. I indicated the same to the doctor on the telephone,

and he suggested two aspirin at intervals and complete rest.

Want me to read?

I'd just like to take a nap, hmm?

Okay.

Don't get into any mischief, because I have absolutely no desire to get up.

will you go?

Hey, I think I've got him.

Hello? Yeah, he's here. Just a minute. Just a minute.

Here.

Hello?

Hello, Jody?

Jody, this is Uncle Bill.

Hi, Uncle Bill.

Want me to call Buffy?

Jody? Now, you listen to me, son.

I want you to call French to the phone.

Sorry, Uncle Bill, but Mr. French can't get up.

He can't get up?

Jody?

Jody!

Where are you going in the storm?

Out.

You won't get as far as the river. What did Jody have to say?

French is sick. He must be pretty bad off because he can't even get up.

What time is it?

The big hand is on the five and the little hand is on the six.

Is there such a thing as 56 o 'clock?

No, Jody.

Oh, by George, I seem to be myself again.

Buffy, what do you have in that bowl?

An almond I'm making for you. She's got to have your permission to turn on the

stove.

quite believe.

If you don't like omelets, I made you some peanut butter sandwiches.

They already got your two aspirins in them.

Thank you just the same, Jody.

Shall I cook the omelet, Mr. French?

I have a better idea, Buffy.

I can easily make the journey to that little restaurant across the street. Why

don't we eat out tonight?

Yay! Where are you going?

as far as the river.

Well, we were in the river.

Listen, imagination's a weird thing.

You get two guys in a remote spot, a garbled telephone conversation, next

you know, World War III started.

Right.

You know, if you were smart, you'd stay away from the telephone and get a

night's rest.

Right. But you're not gonna be smart, huh?

She won't be home till tomorrow evening.

No, no.

No answer.

No answer?

What do you mean, no answer?

Guy's sick. He couldn't very well...

Very well what?

Well, I mean, if he was sick, he couldn't very well get up and walk out,

he?

Maybe he did.

Why didn't the kids answer?

Well, the kids couldn't answer if they weren't there.

If they're not there, they're probably at their neighbor's.

That is, if somebody came and got French.

If who came and got French?

Ambulance, maybe.

I had a different picture.

What? Are you sure you got the right number when you called New York just

Well, it rang.

Yeah, it rang, but it might have been ringing in Paris for all you know. Try

again.

Heard one ring, you heard them all.

Let's just send the one you got a wrong number.

Thanks for walking me to the door, Scotty.

I'll be okay now.

is that you? See, now you can relax.

Yes, Uncle Bill. I just came into the apartment.

Where is everybody?

Sissy, I'm way down in the jungles in Yucatan. You tell me where everybody is.

I don't know.

I walked in and the place is deserted.

Are you sure?

Look around.

Okay.

Nobody home?

She doesn't think so.

Sissy? Sissy?

Gone dead?

Well, she didn't find any bodies around, so that rules out foul play. And it was

no sign of a fight, so that gets that out of the way. So it's left. Now,

nobody's going to walk in and kidnap a sick man and two small children, so that

leaves, uh...

Well, if we go over the ridge, we won't have to cross the river. It's longer,

but I'll get my hat.

This is my problem. You stay here. I want you right here by the phone in case

they try to get through again.

Come on, children.

Can we go walk in the rain, Mr. French?

What? Most assuredly not.

Hey, there's Sissy. Hi, Sissy. Hi, Sissy.

What are you doing here, child?

Oh, I phoned home and didn't get any answer.

I was worried.

Uncle Bill's been calling us on the phone.

Well, he called again, but we were cut off.

Yeah, every time he calls, that happens.

Mr. Davis has been calling you children?

All the time. He sounds nervous.

What have you told him?

He said you were awful, awful sick.

Oh, heavens.

Poor man.

He must be laboring under a profound misapprehension.

The storm's letting up and the foreman says we can get to Puerto Verde in the

truck. Right, right.

Hey,

Bill. Bill, phone.

Hello. Oh, yeah?

Yeah, yeah, I'll take the call. Sure.

See, now you can get the whole story. The storm has finally blown itself out.

French, that you?

Most assuredly, sir.

Close them.

Oh, the Ming is gone, sir.

The Ming?

Somebody take the Ming vase?

We seem to be having a storm here of hurricane proportions, sir.

Hurricane?

French?

Hey, French, how about the kids?

How about the kids, French?

Now it's gone dead on their end. Yeah. At least, you know, French is okay. All

that worrying for nothing.

Right. What was that stuff about a hurricane?

He said they were having a storm of hurricane proportions.

Well, it'll be safe in the apartment.

Who'd steal a vase?

Somebody stole... Oh, it doesn't matter. Whoever stole it must have left a long

time ago.

Yeah, he wouldn't be calling me with the... Burglar was still in the

Except why would he call me way down here, huh?

Why not? He probably wanted to tell you about the base and the kids and the

storm and... I'll get the...

Hello,

children.

Now, tell me, do we have all our various school accoutrements about our persons?

Have we, sister?

Yes.

Uncle Bill!

Hi, kid.

Hi, sis.

Well, I see you're all fine.

Why, did we have some doubts, sir? Some.

Boy, Uncle Bill, am I glad to see you.

We've been racking our brains for a subject for my next composition.

Mr. French thinks that...

The ramifications of language due to the conquest would be nice.

But I thought maybe I'd write about long hair and men.

Sissy, I got the perfect subject for an essay.

Imagination. Imagination?

What would I write about a subject like that?

When you come home tonight, I'll give you a couple of good examples.

It won't be long till... Come on, John.