Original subtitles

Children! Children will be late for school.

Wouldn't it be nice if we didn't have to go to school, Mr. French?

No, it would not.

Children's minds must be shaped and molded into patterns of learning.

But it's too nice out to be shaped and molded.

I wish we could have school in the park.

Sissy! Okay, okay, I'm coming!

She's shaping and molding her hair.

Mr. French, do kids have to go to school in Australia?

Yes, I'm sure they do.

I'm sorry, Mr. French.

How do I look?

Neat and clean.

Yes, neat and clean.

Neat and clean?

I'm supposed to look exotic.

Aren't you going to answer it?

The Davis residence?

Why, Mr. Davis, good morning.

Oh, Uncle Bill.

Australia! Oh, it's nighttime here, friends.

How are the kids?

Splendid. We're just leaving for school, sir.

Let me talk to him.

No, no, no, no, no, children. There's not enough time for everybody. I'll

for the party.

Ask him when he's coming home. And tell him to hurry.

Well, tell him I met a great -looking boy and his name is Chuck.

Will you be departing Sydney soon, sir?

I'm taking off tomorrow morning.

That's tonight, your turn.

He'll be leaving Australia today.

I'm not coming straight home. I've got to stop off in Tahiti for a few weeks on

some business.

That's what I called you about.

Oh, he will be stopping in Tahiti for a few weeks.

A few more weeks?

Listen, I thought maybe you could pack up the kids and meet me there.

Think they'd like that?

Meet you in Tahiti, sir?

Our entire group?

Yes, they'd like it, sir, to be sure.

Okay. I'll make all the arrangements as soon as I get in.

Yes, sir, and I shall take care of all arrangements at this end.

Goodbye, sir.

Mr. French, are we really going to Tahiti?

It would appear so, Sissy.

You don't sound very happy about it, Mr. French.

Well, I don't care for life on such tropical islands.

They erode one's initiative and undermine the roots of civilization.

We'll watch out for our roots, Mr. French. We promise.

Mr. French, Tahiti, just to say it is romantic.

My word, look, we're late for school.

You see what Tahiti's done for our roots already?

Come on.

One with her patients, Bill. It takes a while to get through our customs.

French?

Oh, this is Miss Perrier, Mr. French. The children is Puffy, Sissy, and Jody.

Yorana. That means hello in Tahitian.

Yorana. Hi.

That means hello in American.

Oh, is this absolutely necessary, sir? Oh, sure. That's the local greeting,

Oh, very well, sir.

You look beautiful, Mr. French.

Oh,

yes, well... I must say, I feel like a mobile greenhouse.

Come on.

No, don't go yet. I want you to get acquainted with the family.

Well, I'm due at the museum.

Oh, yeah. There'll be time.

Okay, well, I'll see you at dinner then, all right? All of us. Yes.

Bye -bye.

That means goodbye.

Bye -bye.

I'm working with her brother on the construction complex. She has an office

the Polynesian Museum.

Let's go. Come on.

Anybody home?

Anybody home?

Who are you, sir?

Tupia. Well, doesn't one knock before entering?

What for?

You would say, who is it? And I would say, Tupia.

And you would say, come in, please.

And this way, I'm already in, please.

Hello, Topia. Hello, Mr. Davis.

You have fine children. Well, thank you. This is Buffy and Jody.

Kids, this is Mr. Topia. He's going to be your school teacher while we're here.

You mean we have to go to school here, too?

But it's so warm. I thought it was summer vacation.

Well, it's school time in New York.

You will like school here.

And here are two classmates, Ling and Taru.

They wish to welcome you.

Irana.

Irana.

Yorana.

That means, how are you?

And you say, I am fine.

That's not fair, Uncle Bill. We're having a lesson already.

Okay, you go on and play now.

Well, sir, it would seem that Duffy and Jody are adapting.

Well, when in Tahiti... Yes, sir, but tell me, sir, is that native gentleman

really a schoolmaster?

He is supposed to be one of the best, according to Janine.

I dread to think of his influence on the children, sir.

They'll survive.

Uncle Bill, can I go into Papa 18 and do some sightseeing? Sure, go ahead.

Do you think it's wise, sir, to go out unescorted?

Oh, all the girls run around on their own here.

If you say so, sir.

Well, it's perfectly safe if you use common sense.

Mr. French, I'll be careful.

Thanks, Uncle Bill. I'll look for a guide service in town.

Bye. Bye -bye.

Hi,

same to you.

This is a tour service.

More or less.

Well, which is it?

You want to go sightseeing?

Mm -hmm.

Then it's a tour service.

Name?

Sissy Davis.

Hometown?

New York. I'm here with my uncle and my brother and my sister.

Brown hair.

Brown eyes.

Nice smile.

There.

Yeah.

That's very good.

But I'm not here to hire an artist. I came in for a tour guide.

Mike West.

Vagabond Tour Service and artist at your service.

I'm glad to meet you both.

Ione.

Customer. Mind the store, huh?

That's impossible.

It's not three o 'clock yet.

Mr. Topia doesn't go by o 'clock.

When he thinks we've learned enough, he sends us home.

And we had our lessons under a tree.

And the whole day was just like recess.

Well, I trust that we learned something.

And you know how Jane always has three apples and Tom always has two oranges?

Well, in Tahiti, Jane and Tom have mangoes and coconuts.

Yes, well, why don't you go out and play with your friends now, and then it'll

be time to do your homework.

We don't have any.

Mr. Tupia says our homework is to keep our eyes open.

You go with us now?

Mr. French, the cruise ship is coming in this afternoon.

Can we go meet it with Ling and Taru?

Well, you know, I'm not sure that your uncle would approve of you going to the

harbor. Please, Mr. French.

We may... Take money.

How?

The people throw coins over the side of the ship, and Ling and Taru die for

them.

Buffy and Jody, you are definitely not going to die for coins.

But we just want to help.

And we sit in the outriggers and yell up to them to throw more.

Yelling very important.

Do you mean to tell me that your parents allow such behavior?

Our parents teach us.

I guess we can't go.

Maybe look for shells?

Mr. French, can we hunt for shells?

Well, um, not now, not now. Another day when I have time to accompany you.

Anyway, we can play outside.

Your chief has many taboos.

What's a taboo?

I think it's a no -no.

You're on now, Mr. French.

Oh.

Are we acquainted, madam? Sure. I watch you. And I ask to appear. Who is man

with that face?

Oh. Well, what do you wish?

I'm called Ariana.

descendant of King Pomadi.

Well, it's most interesting to be sure, but... It's for you.

I'd spear him myself.

Madam, I... Take now.

Fresh we spend time in warm air. Later, not fresh.

Yes, ma 'am. Thank you. I... Now, I've only got a...

It's a kind of hazy idea how I'm going to handle it, but the main thing is I

don't want to do anything to destroy the natural beauty.

Yes, buildings that will blend with the island.

Looking out over the peaks of Morea and the lagoon.

And no higher than two -thirds the height of a coconut tree, right?

You heard about our unwritten construction code.

That's a good idea, too. Keep the high -rises from ruining the neighborhood.

It's going to be a long -term project.

But with your help, it will be possible.

Well, I'd better get to work, too, because even a dream starts with a

Michael, can we rest a while? I'm absolutely dragging.

Sure, sit.

How much further is this waterfall of yours anyway?

Not far. You can see it from the road.

From the road?

Yeah. Then what are we doing here?

Hey, you're the one that wanted to go sightseeing. I was perfectly happy to

sit it out back in town.

You're right, you're right.

What are you sketching?

Scenery. I peddled it to the tourists on the cruise ships.

You know, the ones that never come ashore long enough to find out what

really like.

Do you sell many paintings?

No, or I wouldn't be in the tour business.

Well, someday I bet you're going to be a famous Tahitian artist. Maybe like

Gauguin.

Sure. Come on.

Next stop, the waterfall.

How are the children reacting to life in Tahiti?

Oh, fine.

I think Sissy's going to write a guidebook. All she does is go

That's the two little ones that are on completely.

My brother tells me you started work on the plans.

Yeah, the educational complex is a great idea.

Very good for the people, but I'm afraid it might change the scenery.

I'm afraid so.

It would be marvelous if the Tahitian people could stay the way they are.

Simple, kind, beautiful.

But the world changes, and Tahiti's changing, too.

Whether we like it or not.

Well,

I just hope it doesn't change too fast, because I love it the way it is, see?

So do I.

This is my home.

I could never leave.

Well, I'll tell you, the idea of going back to a big, noisy city doesn't

get me all excited, either.

Bill, why don't you stay, you and your family?

We might just do that.

Anyway, you'll be working with your brother long enough to decide whether

going to make sense or not.

You know what, Bob?

What? I think we should bring some of that black sand from the beach back so

kids in New York will believe us.

Maybe we can shake enough out of the shower.

Now, come along, children. Let's not dawdle. We don't want Ling and Taru to

too far ahead of us, do we?

Oh, look.

Isn't that pretty?

What are they, Mr. French?

Oh, they're called birds of paradise, Buffy.

There's so many flowers, they don't need any. No picking signs.

Now, which way did our little friends go?

Ling! Taru!

Ling! Taru!

Do you think Ling and Taru are lost, Mr. French?

Oh, of course not.

They must be, because we know where we are, but we don't know where they are.

Let us check on them.

I would surmise that drums would indicate human habitation.

I don't think this is the right track, Mr. French.

Oh, I'm sure we'll find a house of some sort.

I don't like those drums.

Oh, there's nothing to worry about, Buffy.

In the jungle movies, when you hear drums, there is something to worry

In Tahiti, drums are used merely as a form of entertainment.

Come along, children.

Do you think this is a witch doctor's house, Mr. French?

There are no witch doctors in Tahiti.

And what's that statue doing?

Oh, that's a tiki. It guards this house.

Hello. Hello, Mr. French. Welcome.

How do you do, madam?

And hello to Buffy and Jody.

I'm sure glad we found somebody who Mr. French knows.

We couldn't find our way back.

Oh, Mr. French is a smart man. He get the message.

What message?

Ling and Taro stop by.

They say you are lost.

So I play drum to lead way to house.

Oh, that's very kind of you.

Mr. French, will you sit down and rest?

Oh. Miriana brings something to drink. Oh, yes. Oh, I see. You wouldn't by any

chance have a nice cup of tea, would you?

Tea?

Mr.

French, you funny man.

Miss Norianni is nice.

Did you see, Jody? She looks at Mr. French just like Miss Babisham does back

home.

Now, we'll be on our way as soon as we've had our refreshments and our

directives.

Thanks. We love coconut milk.

Jody.

Dear Craig, hi.

Your friend Jody.

That's all?

There wasn't enough room. I print big.

Well, you're gonna have to start printing smaller or getting bigger

Mr. French!

Mr.

French, why can't we go outside and play?

Because I think we've had enough activity for one day.

Lynn and Taru can do whatever they want.

Well, that's the trouble here. Everyone does what they like.

What's wrong with that, Mr. French?

Well, the world would be a very sorry place if everyone was out on an endless

picnic.

We think picnics are nice, especially endless.

Hi. Hi.

Hi. Where have you been all afternoon, Sissy?

Oh, I've been sightseeing.

What did your sight see?

Heaven.

He got lost and found.

You did?

Well, I'm lost and I don't want to be found.

I must say you seem quite taken by the vagabond tour service.

Oh, Mr. French, I think I'm in love with it.

Hey, French.

Your Honor, Uncle Bill.

Your Honor.

Your Honor yourself.

Ah, good evening, sir.

Where's Sissy?

I believe she's in her room, sir, daydreaming over the vagabond travel

Sissy!

You got something to tell us, Uncle Bill?

Got something to tell all of you.

What, Uncle Bill? Sit down, will you?

Now, first I want to know how all of you feel about Tahiti.

You first.

I like it. It's prettier than New York.

I like it, too. It's fun to play with Ling and Taru.

Oh, do I have to wait until you call on me, Uncle Bill?

No, go ahead.

I just said it.

How about you?

Oh, Uncle Bill, I think it's the most fabulous place in the world.

How about you, French?

Oh, well, as a visitor, one finds Tahiti a very pleasant vacation spot, sir.

Okay, well, it's just liable to turn out to be more than that.

More? You mean we might stay here?

Well, it's like this. Mr. Perrier just asked me if I wanted to stay on and

supervise the construction of the school.

Forever?

Maybe about three or four years.

All of us, Uncle Bill?

The whole works.

Yippee!

Yippee!

Whoa, wait a minute. Now, I just said the man asked me if I wanted the job. I

didn't say I'd accept it.

Oh, please accept it, Uncle Bill.

Well, I'm going to think about it.

Oh, boy. Wait until we tell the kid.

Uh, sir.

Excuse me, but I'd not consider the possibility of taking up residence on a

tropical island.

Well, you better consider it when you're going to get another chance like this.

I should...

I should hate to see us become a family of beachcombers, sir.

What's the difference as long as we're happy beachcombers?

Oh, yes.

It conjures up a picture of a barefooted paradise.

Not for me, of course, sir, but... Well, do you really think it's a fitting and

proper place for growing children?

Well, I'll tell you, I don't really know what is fitting and proper.

That's what we're going to find out.

Next week, see part two of the adventures of the Davis family in

Of course, this primitive and somewhat barbaric island is not suitable to an

English gentleman's gentleman.

But it does have a certain charm.

Want to buy a ukulele, Yankee?

Yankee, indeed.

As I trust you shall see.

Goodbye, then. Until next week.

Thank you.