Original subtitles

Hey, Jody, you... Wow.

That's a very sharp -looking outfit there.

Good morning, Uncle Bill.

What are you getting all dressed up for? You got a party at school?

No, sir, just the same old stuff.

Uh -huh.

Must be something going on.

Last time you wore a tie, they were going to take the class picture.

It's nothing like that.

Girls just like this sort of thing.

Girls, huh?

You got to do a lot of silly stuff if you want to please women.

Yeah.

Well, I know one thing will please your teacher.

Getting to school, I'm talking about.

Step on it.

Okay, I think I'm ready.

Now.

Hey, where's that stamp from?

Brazil, I sorted off a postcard Uncle Bill sent us.

Well, hurry up, Jody. The stickball game starts at 3 .30. I'm not going to play.

Why not?

I don't feel like it.

Going to sit here with your old stamps?

Maybe. What's the matter?

Girls.

That's not fair.

We wouldn't have enough for a team if I didn't play.

I don't mean you. I mean Geraldine Haskins. She doesn't like me.

How do you know she doesn't like you?

She didn't even talk to me at school today.

I said hello, then she said hello, then nothing.

Not even goodbye?

Nothing.

You probably don't have a very good line.

What's a line?

I'm not really sure, but I heard Sissy say that once about a boy.

I got all dressed up for Geraldine Haskins. I even wore this dumb old bow

She probably didn't know you were doing it for her.

You mean I'm supposed to tell her?

Jody, if a boy got all dressed up for me, I'd want to know.

Well, it's too late now. I don't want to have to get all dressed up again

tomorrow.

Why don't you go to her house and talk to her? She only lives around the

Yeah, then she'll know I got dressed up just for her.

Buffy, you're a neat sister.

Well, such sartorial splendor for a stickball game. I'm not going to the

stickball game, Mr. French. I've got something more important to do.

Oh, well, where are you going?

To Jolene Haskins' house.

Jolene Haskins more important than stickball?

Hi, Geraldine.

What do you want?

You didn't even say hi.

Hi. What do you want?

I came over to talk to you.

Aren't you going to let me in?

Hi. You said that.

What do you want to talk about?

Anything. I just like to talk. I mean, especially to you.

Well, how would you know? You've never even talked to me before.

Well, I just figure I would.

Okay, go ahead and talk.

I talk better when I'm sitting down.

Hi.

This stuff is very soft.

Yes, it is.

That's a nice dress.

Yeah.

Well, how have you been?

Fine.

I think you should go home.

Yeah, I guess we've talked enough.

I can see you tomorrow at school. Then we can try it again.

Hey, what are you doing there?

Rehearsing a speech?

Oh, hi, Uncle Bill.

I'm thinking of what I'm going to say tomorrow at lunch.

Got anything else you want to tell me?

No, sir.

Everything's fine, I think.

I'll let you know tomorrow, after I try my new line on Geraldine.

What's a line?

You know, how you talk to a girl.

Oh, that kind, sure.

This is Geraldine's friend of yours, huh?

I don't have any friends that are girls.

What is she then?

She's a special girl.

One that's equal to boys.

We're going to communicate together on my level.

Good evening, sir.

I have your clothes laid out. Thank you.

I hope you have a nice time, Uncle Bill. See you later.

Okay.

Well, looks like he's interested in girls.

Oh, yes, that would be Geraldine Haskins.

Ah.

Is it, uh, you think that's natural for a nine -year -old to be interested in

girls?

Well, from what I've read, sir, it would seem a little premature.

That's what I thought. Well, he's getting all dressed up, and now he tells

he's trying out a new line.

When he went calling on young Geraldine this afternoon, sir.

He gave up the ball game to see a girl.

Oh, by choice.

Oh, but I wouldn't worry, sir. There's probably a very simple explanation.

I sure hope so. I don't want to start out with girl trouble. I am ready.

Thank you.

If you don't mind my saying so, you're much too pretty to be a director of a

research foundation.

Would you prefer it if I had old mutton chops and a beard?

I like working with you the way you are now.

Thank you.

And you don't have any objections to a woman holding a responsible job?

Oh, none at all. No, sir.

I have nothing but respect for you and the Baldwin Foundation, too.

Well, in that case, you may call me Claudia.

Grant. I don't like using last names anyway. Makes me feel like I'm in the

And you may call me Bill.

You know, women in my position have a distinct advantage.

How's that?

Oh, we get wine -dined a lot by many interesting men.

Oh, you get that kind of attention anyway. What are you talking about?

Some of them even want to talk business.

Well, I can assure you that my intentions, if I get a contract, With my

your foundation, but not completely, see?

You're very charming.

Thank you.

But, um, I have to warn you.

That's not going to influence my decision one bit.

Oh, I didn't expect it to.

I just want a chance to prove my company can do the job as well as anybody else,

okay?

You'll have it.

I would like to go over with you the bid in detail as soon as possible.

It may take me a few days, even a week, to make my decision.

Fine.

Here's an empty place.

Oh, why don't you take it?

Aren't you going to eat with me?

Not today.

I'll see you later.

Hello, Geraldine.

Hello, Jody.

Do you want to eat lunches together?

Well, the schoolyard belongs to everybody.

You can sit where you like.

I mean by ourselves, over by the fence.

Why?

I want to talk to you.

Again?

Come on.

like privacy, don't you?

Yeah, especially when I'm alone.

I'm sorry, Geraldine, but I guess I'm a real dum -dum when it comes to talking

to girls.

Yeah, well, you sure acted weird at my house yesterday.

But I really think you're an equal, though.

What does that mean?

Well, like, you know, like, well, like someone you can talk about

baseball with.

I hate baseball.

Even the Mets?

If they're baseball, I hate them.

There's lots of other equal things.

Like what?

Well, like cowboy pictures.

You love those, I bet.

You lose the bet.

Well, then what kind of movies do you like?

Good ones, about history.

No wonder you get A's.

I got it.

A worm.

Want to see it? Look at it squirm.

Here.

Oh, Jody, you're horrible. All boys are horrible.

Boys are the dumbest thing in the whole world.

Uncle Bill. What are you doing up?

I couldn't sleep. I've got a problem.

Oh, boy. Bad as that, huh?

Could we talk, man to man?

Shoot.

How do you get a girl to like you?

I asked Buffy and Sissy, but I think I was asking the wrong side.

Well, this girl, um... Geraldine Haskins.

Geraldine. Is she all that important?

Yes.

You don't sound too sure.

Well, there's a no someplace in there, too. But the yes means a lot more than

the no.

I see.

I've tried everything on her, but it didn't work.

I don't really think I can help you.

Come on, Uncle Bill. You know all the tricks.

Tricks? Yeah, you know, like bringing a girl flowers or candy.

Do you think she'd like me if I brought her a chocolate bar?

No, that one really doesn't work unless she already likes you.

How about taking her out to a play, like you did with Miss Wells tonight?

She like the theater?

Probably not. She doesn't like cowboy pictures.

Well, you better find something that you both like.

It's no use.

Why don't you just try being yourself, huh? Maybe everything will work out.

on. Come on back.

I like

your idea of using precast aluminum here.

What would the difference being caused?

Bill? I was thinking about something else, didn't I?

Problem?

Uh, yeah. Yeah, big problem if you're a nine -year -old boy.

Your nephew, Jody?

Yep.

Listen, you work with kids a lot, haven't you?

Eleven years.

Five with the foundation as a social worker.

Okay. Is it normal for a nine -year -old boy to have a big crush on a little

girl?

With all the pangs and the flutterings? Aches and pains. Terrible.

Very unlikely.

Well, he's got all the symptoms anyway.

He's tried every which way to win that little girl that started hitting her in

the head like a caveman.

Now, I think a nephew of yours could operate on charm alone.

Not a chance.

Struck out every time.

And he's taking it very hard, very hard.

Classic example of unrequited love, but I can't fight. He's too young, Bill.

Well, what's he making all the fuss about, then?

Could have an ulterior motive for wanting her to like him.

No, he wouldn't do that.

Why don't you ask him?

Okay, I will.

Never hurts to ask.

As a matter of fact, I had something that I wanted to ask you.

Are you going to take me to lunch today?

Yes, I'm going to take you to Julio's. They've got a guy that plays the

accordion. They have candlelight, very secluded, little alcoves. Grand.

Sounds like just the place for a business look.

Buffy's waiting.

Okay, Uncle Bill.

Shut there.

Present for Geraldine?

Yes, sir.

You don't give up, do you?

No.

Listen.

You got some special reason you want that girl to like you?

I mean, something you haven't told me yet?

Yes, sir, there is.

You want to tell me now?

Jolene collects stamps like me.

She bought her album to school last week.

She's got the one pathetic Spanish triangle.

It's a real neat stamp.

The neatest one I ever saw.

You want her to give it to you, huh?

No. I want to trade her for it.

Oh, good.

Did you ask her?

No. She'd only say no.

I've got to get her to like me first.

That's kind of devious.

What's devious?

Devious is, you know, roundabout.

Well, if you want that stamp so badly, why, just ask her straight out.

See if she wants to trade you for it.

If I ask her straight out, I know she won't trade it to me.

She even says no when I say hello.

You know nothing doing you either ask her straight out or just forget the

deal But do I have to be so honest I mean if I don't say anything I'm not

telling a lie And you're not telling the truth either

Are we having girl troubles with Jody, sir?

No, not exactly. He's got an ulterior motive.

One peseta Spanish triangle.

Oh, yes. I see a case of attempted baptism.

Claudia Wells had it pegged right. She's a pretty smart girl.

And I'm kind of a knucklehead.

Sir?

Well, I've been sort of devious myself.

You see, I'm after that building contract, huh?

I've been giving her the red carpet treatment.

I know, sir, but that's quite different. After all, Miss Wells knew you wanted

that contract.

Oh, that's true. We started off with that understanding, but... Whereas

Geraldine had no idea that Jody wants a stamp.

I don't want to have to explain the difference to Jody.

Maybe we have meatloaf sandwiches.

Maybe.

Hey, there's Geraldine.

Big deal.

Let's go eat lunch.

Hi, Geraldine. Hi.

It is meatloaf.

I'm not hungry.

If you'd rather go catch a worm, that's okay with me.

Jody doesn't want to go, do you, Jody? Yes, I do.

But Joey, you love having lunch with Geraldine. You sat with her the other

over by the fence.

That was a rotten lunch.

And the only reason I sat with you and did all those stupid things is because I

wanted your Spanish triangle.

My Spanish triangle?

The one Poseidon.

I think it's a real neat stamp. The neatest one I ever saw.

And I wanted it.

Well, I didn't know you collected stamps.

Well, I just started a little while ago.

But he's getting real good at licking the hinges.

Oh, I didn't know that.

My collection isn't as expensive as yours, though.

Well, some of my stamps used to belong to my dad.

That's how come they're so expensive.

Your triangle must be worth a dollar and a half. In the catalog, it says over

two dollars.

Hey, would you like to come over and see it again?

Sure. You can come over to my house this afternoon.

I have lots of others I'd love to show you. I even have one with a mistake on

it. An error, wow.

Mr. French gets letters from England, and last Christmas he got a stamp with a

golden queen on it.

I never saw that one.

I've gotten an American stamp from 1892.

It's used, but not much.

I even have stamps from countries where they don't have countries anymore.

I'm going to go over and sit by the girls.

I got a set of watercolor airmails from Greece.

Wow. Go.

Hi, kids.

I want you to meet Miss Wells.

Hello. Hi, Miss Wells.

Let's see. It's Buffy, Jody, Sissy, oh, and Mr. French.

How do you do, Miss? Oh, may I take your wrap? Oh, thank you.

You know our names.

Your uncle spilled me in on all of you.

Pardon me, sir, but would you and Miss Wells care for a cocktail before dinner?

Oh, I don't know. Would you like something?

Mm -hmm.

Here, sir.

What's that you got there, Jody? It's my stance album.

May I see it? Sure. Oh, thank you.

You know, I collected stance when I was your age.

Guess what I've got.

What? The one Poseidon Spanish triangle.

Isn't that the one Geraldine had?

Yes, but she gave it to me.

He didn't even have to trade her for it.

How come?

She just did it because we're friends.

Jody offered her all kinds of his best stamps, but she wouldn't take them.

And she had to break up a set to give it to him.

Now, that's what I call a real friend.

And it's funny.

Yesterday, she wouldn't even talk to me.

So now you're friends and she gave you the stamp, huh?

You were right, Uncle Bill. I told her why I was being so nice, and she didn't

mind at all.

I'm glad to hear that.

Me too. Now Jody can get his mind back on stickball.

Excuse us.

Come on, let's go get ready for dinner.

Bill, I've, um...

I've made my decision.

Yeah?

I've decided to give the contract to a local firm back in Dallas, Morgan &

Weeks.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, too.

They're good, Morgan & Weeks. I don't think we could do any better than they

I knew you'd feel that way.

Well, let's get around to the business of being friends, then.

Thank you.

Thank you, friend.

Did Miss Wells make her plane on time?

Sure.

She's a nice lady. I like her.

Yeah, I like her, too. I hope I see her again soon.

Know what, Uncle Bill?

Hmm?

I've decided to give Geraldine back her triangle.

And after all the trouble you went to get it?

I know.

But I think I like Geraldine more than I like the stamp.

Well, that's a nice thought.

You know, she broke up a whole set just to give it to me. I think it's better

for her to have it.

I think you and Geraldine are going to be friends for a long time.

I hope so, even if she is a girl.

Good night, Judy.

I'm real proud of you tonight.

Good night, Uncle Bill.

I'm very proud of me, too.