Original subtitles

Twice.

Twice as fast.

Two times.

Two times what?

Well, aren't we about finished with our arithmetic, Judy? Not even halfway.

Could you do this fourth problem, Mr. French?

Oh, I'm sure I could. Only I'm not taking the course. You are.

But these are such dumb math problems.

Listen. If it takes Tom and Ned four hours and 35 minutes to build a fence...

How long will it take Roy working twice as fast to build the same fence?

What's so dumb about that?

Well, why would Roy want to build a fence if the other two guys already

it?

Maybe the fence fell down.

Well, whatever happened to it, I think we'd better pick up our things, Jody.

Mr. Davis phoned a while ago to say that he was bringing home a friend.

Who is it?

Hello, everybody.

French, this is Harv Mullin, a very old friend of mine.

Mullin's I know.

Yeah, that's Buffy there with Mrs. Beasley.

Hi.

And the old scholar over there, that's Jody. Hi.

Well, you didn't tell me about them, Bill.

Are they yours?

They are now.

What are you working on, Jody?

Oh, some dumb arithmetic that I can't get.

Well, I'm pretty good at getting dumb arithmetic. Maybe I can give you a hand

later.

Boy, could you?

Mr. Mullen, Mrs. Beasley has some new beads.

She's very proud of them.

Oh, don't blame her. Yeah, they look expensive.

They are. They're genuine colored glass.

Okay, kids. Harg wants to freshen up now.

Mr. Mullen's going to stay with us a few days, friends.

Oh, that's splendid, sir.

Can you fix him up in the den back there? Oh, yes, sir. You'd make him very

comfortable there. I'll pick up your luggage, sir.

He'll show you where everything is, Harv. I'm going to try to drum up some

interviews for you here.

I like him. He's nice.

That's good.

He could use some friends just now.

Doesn't he have any?

Yeah, but he's pretty lonely.

Is he really good at arithmetic?

You got two degrees in engineering. That good enough for you?

If it means building fences, it does.

Where's Sissy?

She's eating at Sharon's. She said they're studying for their sewage class.

Hello? This Bill Davis. Has Mr.

Cosgrove left his office yet?

Will you please? Yeah, I'll be home all evening.

Okay.

What did you say she was doing?

Studying for her sewage.

You mean sociology.

I don't know what I mean.

Come on. Let's get cleaned up or French won't let us in the dining room.

I've eaten in, well, five years.

Thank you, sir.

Would you like some more, Mr. Mullins? Oh, no, Jody. I couldn't eat another

mouthful. Good. Then let's do some arithmetic.

Jody, don't rush him. Let him have his coffee.

Cream or sugar, sir?

I just like to inhale the aroma of good, fresh coffee.

Not that 90 -gallon instant dishwater.

90 gallons, I say, sir. May I ask what sort of establishment you've been dining

at? Oh, uh, Mr. Mullen's been dining sort of cafeteria style.

Why didn't you just eat at home?

Well, I... I don't really have a home.

Are you an orphan?

Kind of.

Where have you been living?

Uh, kids, why don't you just... Let Mr. Mullen have his coffee and dessert.

Don't talk so much, huh?

Is it a secret where he lives?

Well, you said we all go in the living room, huh?

Every time we ask a question about Mr. Mullen, we get an answer that doesn't

answer. Well, if you'll excuse me, Bill, I have some unpacking to do.

Excuse

me,

sir, but...

Is there something troubling Mr. Mullen? No, no. He'll be okay.

Maybe we could help him be okay.

Maybe we could.

Well, I might as well tell you about him.

See, Mr. Mullen is a building contractor.

And about five years ago, he wanted to secure a big contract.

So he kind of offered some money to some people.

And that's against the law.

You're not supposed to do that. So he was tried in court, and the judge sent

to prison.

That's all there is to it.

Anyway, the point is that that's all over now.

It's all over and done with, and he wants to get started again fresh.

So maybe we can help him.

Oh, but, sir, I...

I finished unpacking.

That's good.

And, Bill, I've been thinking, if there's anything you want to tell

it's all right with me.

I've decided maybe that's the best way.

I agree.

See, you've already told them.

Yeah.

Everything will work out fine.

Hi, Judy.

Hi. You want to show me those arithmetic problems now so we can get down to

work?

I think I got them right after all.

Well, do you want me to check over your answers?

We do that in class.

Thanks anyway.

I was just trying to help.

Wouldn't want you to go to school with your work half done.

Neither would my teacher.

Well, I better get to bed now.

So soon?

Yeah, kids need a lot of sleep.

Good night, then, Jody.

Good night, Mr. Marlin.

How'd it go with Jody?

Oh, he didn't need my help.

Oh, he's getting set for bed.

Without being told, that's a switch.

Keep me here.

I'll get him to bed in a hurry. Oh, don't go imagining things. Come on,

going to done work on your resume. Come on.

Jody, I wonder why they call them jailbirds.

You watch the movies on TV.

It's probably because they're in a cage.

But why would Uncle Bill bring Mr. Mullen home with him? I don't know.

And after all that talk he's always given us about not hanging around with

companions. It's sure confusing.

Hey, do you think he escaped?

It escaped.

And Uncle Bill's hiding him out here?

Uncle Bill wouldn't do that.

But just in case, let's not tell the kids at school.

Yeah, or we'll be the bad companions our friends can't hang around with.

Hi, kids. Hi, Sissy. Did you see him?

Did I see who?

The jailbird.

The what?

Uncle Bill brought him home.

What are you talking about?

Mr. Mullen.

Didn't you see him?

No. I did hear somebody talking to Uncle Bill in the den.

That's him.

And he was in prison, and he drank gallons and gallons of dishwater.

Do you mean to say that the man in the den has actually been to prison?

That's what Uncle Bill said.

That's wonderful.

I can hardly believe it.

Didn't she understand what we told her?

I guess she doesn't have time to watch TV movies like we do.

I did the course breakdown at a Phillips job.

Oh, I should mention that, too. Put it... Hello, Wayne. Oh, hello, Uncle

This is Harv Mullen, sissy.

This is my niece, sissy. Hi, I'm very happy to meet you.

Buffy and Jody told me about you.

You know, Mr. Mullen, you couldn't have come at a better time.

You can be a great help to me.

What kind of help?

Well, you see, Sharon and I are doing this project for a sociology class.

And the topic is fitting the criminal back into society.

And so far, all of our material has just come from books.

But now I could get first -hand information.

You wouldn't mind answering a few questions, would you, Mr. Mullen?

Well, if I can be of some help.

Honey, we've got some important things here we're trying to do, okay?

Oh, I'm sorry, Uncle Bill.

Well, maybe I could interview you tomorrow.

You will be here, won't you? Yeah, he's going to be here for a few more days.

I'll be right back.

He seems really nice. Not like anything you'd expect.

He is very nice. Right now he needs a little kindness and a little

understanding. I know.

That's exactly what Sharon and I have been reading about.

I'll do everything I can to make him feel good.

That's good.

Oh, excuse me, sir. There's a call for you. Mr.

Cosgrove. Oh, good. I've been waiting for you. I'll take it in here. Right,

Mr. French, did you hear about our guest?

Our guest?

Yes. Yes, I'm afraid so.

Yeah?

Well, you're fine. I got just the man for you.

Yeah? How about tomorrow morning?

9 .30 is fine.

Okay, we'll see you then.

Well, how about that?

One call, one interview. We're batting 1 ,000.

Yeah?

about Mrs. Beasley's beads.

Why? What's wrong with them?

Nothing, but with Mr. Mullen around.

What would Mr. Mullen want with Mrs. Beasley's beads?

Don't you remember?

He asked if they were expensive.

Uh -huh.

I remember.

Will you hide them for me?

Maybe I should hide my piggy bank, too.

There's almost six dollars in here.

Boy, you're better.

Don't hide them there.

That's the first place they always look.

You're right.

Don't hide them there.

That's the other place they always look.

Maybe he knows that we know that. So he won't look in here.

Good thinking, Jody.

A moment, sir.

Joe, Mr. David.

I hope you'll pardon my presumption, sir, but do you think it's wise to have

that gentleman around? I mean, the children and all that, sir.

Why?

Well, sir, his background and all that.

It's a human being.

Look, he doesn't have any place to go. He needs some help now, that's all.

Naturally, sir, I sympathize, but... I'm not trying to make a hero out of him,

but I'm not going to treat him like an outcast either. He's a friend of mine.

Yes, sir.

That job got filled awfully quickly, Bill.

I know. It could happen that way, though.

Ah, Bill.

When he read my resume, everything was fine with Cosgrove.

Then he asked about the last five years.

Well, you just got to figure on some guys like that.

But why don't you just go on home and relax, take it easy.

We'll work out something.

Well, I want to check out a few places, too.

Okay. I'll see you tonight.

Whatever kind of game are the children playing over there?

Got you, Scarface. You're done for. You missed me. The police don't miss.

They do, because I was staying sideways.

Well, I imagine it's their idea of bobbies and thieves or something.

Give up, Peter. You lose.

Robbers always lose.

It's your turn to be the robber, Jody.

Uh -uh. Let Peter go again.

You'll never catch me this time.

Oh, yeah, but go around that way.

Better watch where you're going, boy.

Are you all right?

Oh, I'm okay.

What are you guys doing?

Oh, we're just playing.

Come on, Jody.

Oh, we're just fooling around.

What do you mean fooling around?

Scarface is getting away.

Playing cops and robbers, Jody?

That's fine. You just keep on being one of the good guys.

Jody, come on!

Hello, French.

Ah, good afternoon, sir.

Who was that chap, French?

That was Mr.

Mullen. I noticed him talking to Jody before.

A friend of yours?

No, a friend of Mr.

Davis'. He seems a decent sort.

All Mr.

Davis' friends are decent sorts.

Is he staying at the house, Mr. French? Yes, yes.

How nice for the children.

Can we go home now, Mr. French?

Why, Buffy, what's the hurry?

I just saw Mr.

Mellon go home.

My, they are taken with him, aren't they?

Oh, yes, you may call your brother.

Good day.

Good day, Mr. French. Good day.

Come on, Jody.

I'm coming.

See you later, guys.

See you, Jody.

Well, now then, what do you feel is society's general reaction to you?

That's a little hard to say.

Well, do you think it's one of basic acceptance or rejection or what?

Well... Hey, come now, gentlemen. We don't run in the house.

Jody, I think we ought to find a better hiding place. I think so, too.

Mr. Mullen, I was asking about society's reaction to you.

It's mixed, you see.

Definitely mixed.

I'll just say hello to the children.

How was school today?

Fine. Fine?

That's good.

Boy, that was close.

Jody, now we have to find a different place to hide him.

Yeah.

Mr. Mullen's in the den packing, sir. Packing?

Yes, sir.

Hey, what are you doing, Hart?

Oh, uh... I just thought I'd move on.

There are some other people I really should visit.

Yeah? What people?

Well, I have this cousin in Long Island.

Okay, you go visit him.

But you don't have to move out today. You got a job starting Monday.

You mean it? I mean it, if you don't mind going to Philadelphia.

Are you kidding? I'd go to the moon.

You stay till Sunday, then.

Oh.

No, Bill, I think it's best if I leave now.

I know how awkward it is having me around here.

I've got the kids and all.

Okay, all right, I'll push you.

Just want you to know you're welcome.

Never had a better friend.

Not that.

Jody?

Hey, you all right?

I guess so.

What are you trying to do?

I was trying to hide my piggy bank on the closet shelf.

What are you trying to hide it for?

On account of Mr. Mullen.

And these beads, too.

Oh.

I'm surprised at both of you.

I'm sorry for breaking everything, Uncle Bill.

Is everything all right, sir?

No,

everything isn't all right.

Now, listen, I'm going to tell you once more about Mr.

Mullen, okay?

Now, wait a minute. Let's talk about that lamp first.

What do you think I ought to do to you for breaking the lamp, huh?

Punish me, I guess.

Okay. All right, for punishment, I'll say you can't play in the park with your

friends.

Okay? For how long?

Forever.

Forever?

That's right.

But, Uncle Bill, that's too long, Uncle Bill.

It is.

Well, if I may say so.

Really, so forever? Well, that does seem a bit drastic, sir.

But it's just not fair.

Of course it's not fair.

Isn't that what you're trying to do to Mr. Mullen?

Huh?

Look, Jody, Mr.

Mullen did a wrong thing, just like you did.

And he was punished for it, as he should have been.

And he spent five years in prison.

So he paid his debt and it's over.

But you want to go on condemning him for the rest of his life.

Is that fair?

Don't you think you should have another chance to show that you're not going to

break any more lamps?

Yes, sir.

Well, then Mr. Mullen should have a chance to prove himself too.

I must confess that I never quite looked at it that way myself.

Well, you know what we've done?

We've just driven him out of here. He's going to leave.

We got a real good chance to help him, but we blew it.

from Philadelphia next week and tell her how everything's going.

Okay. You sure you don't want to change your mind and stay the weekend?

No, but thanks again for everything.

I wish you could stay, Mr. Mullen.

I need help on arithmetic, something awful.

Jody does need a lot of help, Mr. Mullen.

I don't, but I want you to stay anyway.

Excuse me, sir.

I'll unpack for you.

Looks like you're outnumbered. And what you mean is overwhelmed.

The

problem

that's got me stuck is...

This one right here about these two kids.

Tom and Ned.

And they're building this dumb fence.

And it falls down.

So dumb old Troy is building the same dumb fence.