Original subtitles

Good evening.

So nice of you to join us.

Hey, you can go to the lot. It's a shortcut.

Hey, look what's here.

It's nothing, just a dirty old lot.

Sure is messy.

But it'd be a great place if it wasn't messy.

Look at that car.

Hey, this is fun.

Want a ride?

I have to go. I'm supposed to be there when my father brings my little brother

home. Yeah, come on, Jody. Get out.

This would be a great place if we cleaned it up.

A place for what?

For playing.

It's a dump.

It's only a dump because people dump stuff.

You mean a place for us, Jody? Not just for us. For lots of kids.

You know, I bet we could make a real play park out of it.

They wouldn't allow it because maybe it's private property.

Kids aren't supposed to mess around on private property.

We wouldn't be messing. We'd be un -messing.

Why are we going to move a car?

We wouldn't have to move the car. The car could be the biggest toy the kids

have. And we could plant stuff and everything.

Maybe you're right, Jody. It could be a play park.

And then little kids like Ricky's brother wouldn't have to stay in the

the time. Well, maybe.

We could work on it on Saturdays and Sundays and after school.

Okay, Ricky?

I guess so. I don't have much else to do anyway.

But no grown -ups in on it.

Grown -ups always tell you why you can't do stuff.

Uncle Bill doesn't.

If grown -ups are in, I'm out.

We always have to tell Uncle Bill what we're doing, Ricky. We always tell him

everything.

I don't care if you tell him, as long as he's not in on it.

But I'll bet he'll say it's a dumb idea.

Maybe if we do it and venture to the grown -ups when it's finished, not even

father will be able to say such a dumb idea.

They have been waiting breathlessly for you.

It's some sort of surprise, that's all I know.

Hi, Uncle Bill. Wait till you see what we've done.

We asked Mr. Furniture if we could use some of your graph paper. It's okay,

isn't it? I didn't think you'd object, sir. They said they needed it to draw up

a plan of some sort.

Doing a project for school?

No, for after school.

See if you can guess what it is.

Oh.

What do you think of that, huh?

It's interesting, sir.

Whatever it is.

Bill, you've got it upside down. Oh, I see. Yeah, well, now that's, uh... Uh

-huh. Well, looks like a plan for a garden, huh?

It's a play park.

A play park?

Let's see.

What's that bump?

It's not a bump. It's a car.

Well, it's inside. It's taken out so kids can play in it.

Well,

that looks like a real good plan. Now, maybe they'll make a park like that

someday. That's what we're going to do, Uncle Bill. Yeah? Near Ricky's house.

Who's Ricky?

He's a new kid in our class.

He has a little brother who's not allowed to go to the real park.

So that's why we're making our very own. We found a big lot that nobody's using.

Well, you can't take over an empty lot.

Can't we, Uncle Bill?

It's just a dump place.

Sir, that seems hardly a suitable area for a play park.

That's why we're going to clean it up, Mr. Frank, if Uncle Bill says we can.

And don't worry, we'll wear old clothes.

Old clothes, huh?

Okay, I'll buy that.

We told Ricky you wouldn't say it was a dumb idea.

Oh, he's a good idea, as long as he don't wreck the place, can't have any

damage, you know.

It's already damaged now.

Wait till you see all the junk we're going to have to clean up.

Sir.

Listen, why don't I send one of the men down from the company and give you a

hand?

Thanks, Uncle Bill. But we'd rather do it ourselves.

Ricky said he'd ask some of the kids on the block if they'd help.

That way it would be really our very own park.

Okay.

Now, go on. Wash up and we'll eat dinner.

Okay.

You know, I used to drive a two -door bump just like that.

Boy, we got more trash in the whole world than we're hardly even starting.

I'll get some more after lunch.

I'll dump this outside.

I don't think you ought to throw it away, Ricky.

It's just a busted up old tire.

I know, but we can make a circle and plant flowers in it.

Flowers?

Park has to have flowers.

Okay, but I never heard of putting flowers in an old tire.

I don't know how we're going to get rid of that old sink, though.

It sure is heavy.

Maybe you ought to make a pond out of it. A pond? Sure. We can put it in the

hole in the ground and put water in it.

Then kids can see a little boat.

I think it's a wonderful idea, Ricky.

If you can make a garden out of an old tire, I guess I can make a pond out of a

sink. We'll call it Lake Ricky.

But I don't know if we're big enough to dig a hole.

The ground's pretty hard.

Uncle Bill would dig it for us. No, grown -ups. We made a deal.

Okay, but we have to get a shovel.

My father's got one.

It's from when we live in a real house with a yard.

Sorry you don't live in a real house with a yard, Ricky, but I'm glad you

here so you could be our friend.

Okay, you guys, stop pooping off.

Oh, it's the children's bedtime, sir. Shall I tell them or will you?

I'll be the villain tonight.

Oh, you're looking pretty nifty.

You're a lucky fella.

Oh, Linda, Jan, and Sherry. We're going to a movie.

Man, I was just going to tell the kids to go to bed.

You're a little late, Uncle Bill.

out in between my lipstick and eye shadow, so I tucked her in.

Huh.

Is it morning yet? No.

Just putting you to bed, pal.

We got the hole for the sink almost finished.

Oh, that's fine.

The hole for the sink?

They're probably burying some junk. You know, sanitation department does it all

the time.

But they use a bulldozer. Never underestimate the power of a kid with a

Got almost everything already cleaned up, Uncle Bill.

That's pretty good for one weekend.

Now all we have to do is the easy stuff to make it look pretty.

Is it okay if we go there every day after school?

Well, I don't think you ought to be going there during the school week.

We'd only stay there a little while every day and then come home and do our

homework. Well, there's no special hurry to finish it, is there?

Yes. We already told everybody that the grand opening of the play park is next

Saturday.

How much do you have left to do?

Paint the car.

They make a lot of signs.

What signs?

Well, to show what each place is. Like the zoo.

The zoo?

You know, you have to have animals for a zoo, Jody.

We have animals.

Two tigers and a rabbit.

And we're expecting a bird.

Tigers?

They're really cats, Mr. French, but don't tell anybody.

But the rabbit's a real rabbit.

Ricky got it for Easter.

I just wish we had some stuff to plant to make it look like a real park.

If I may make a suggestion, sir, the privet hedges on the terrace do need

thinning.

Okay, take some privets.

Thanks, Mr. French.

It'd be like a touch of England, sir, the hedges of Hyde Park.

Oh, and I've got some packets of fees I'll donate to you.

Vegetable seeds?

Flower seeds.

Okay, we'll take them.

Thanks, Sissy.

You're welcome.

Anything to help the ecology.

What's ecology?

Oh, it's the relationship of man to his environment.

It's more like cleaning up the world so we can keep on living in it, you know?

Oh.

And we thought we were only making a play park for little kids.

Just waiting to see it, Uncle Bill. Came out even better than we thought.

We're here, everybody.

Could have stayed home.

We all could have stayed home.

What's wrong?

Nothing I wouldn't expect if I had known what the kids were doing.

I could have told Ricky it was a waste of time.

Take a look at that.

The city bought it.

They're putting in parking here.

They can't do that, can they, Uncle Bill?

They're doing it.

But this is our park, where little kids are supposed to play.

Since when does City Hall care where kids in this rotten neighborhood play,

Oh, it's a little more complicated than that, Mr.

Alvarez.

I'm Ricky's father.

My name is Davis.

No, I think it's... I don't think it's a question of the city not caring.

They've just had this property for a long time.

I wish they'd put a sign up, though, before the kids did all that work.

Can't we ask them to change their minds, Uncle Bill?

They won't. They think cars are more important than kids.

I hope you learned something from this.

Come on, let's go.

I'm sorry.

I think it's awful.

Is it true cars are more important, Uncle Bill?

You know better than that. But they got a problem. Look at all the cars parked

on the curb.

Count something, me dumb sir.

Well, maybe I can get to see the councilman for the district.

Would you, Uncle Bill?

It's worth trying, I guess.

He'd help us. I know he would. Sure he will. He just didn't know about our

Just don't go counting on it, okay?

But we are counting on it, Uncle Bill.

We know you're going to fix things.

Now do you want to see our park?

That's what we're here for.

You have to go through this thing.

After you, sir.

Well,

you did a real fine job. I'm proud of you.

All the kids did it, Uncle Bill. Well, you all did a great job.

My park is built for the wine, aren't I, children?

But it's most impressive.

Well, if the other little kid's playing here, Mr. French, then it'll really be

most impressive.

Oh, may I bring you a coffee, sir? No, thanks.

Well, the children are in excellent spirit, sir.

Yeah, I know. They're counting a lot on that meeting with the councilman. I wish

they wouldn't, too.

Well, then you don't expect to succeed?

Well, you've got to be realistic, French. The city's already acquired that

property for a parking lot, and it's pretty hard to go and untangle red tape.

Well, you did tell them not to raise their hopes too high, sir.

Well, I think I can move mountains.

Well, you have moved mountains, sir. The last one was in South America, if I

recall, sir.

It's a sense compared to moving the council of the city planning commission.

No, I just hate to have the kids think that the city's indifferent to them and

care about them.

Yes, I suppose it is easy for children to become cynical.

I saw Ricky.

He was only echoing his father.

I guess his father's had a pretty rough time.

Hey, I will have some coffee.

Yes, sir.

Oh, did you succeed in having Mr. Alvarez come to the meeting with the

councilman? Oh, yeah, yeah. After about 20 minutes on the phone, he is going to

come and bring Ricky.

Well, that's very encouraging, then.

I don't know. I think he's bringing the boy for all the wrong reasons.

I think you children should be commended for what you did.

I wish more young people showed the same kind of concern.

Do you think you can do something about the park?

I'm afraid not, Mr. Davis.

It figures.

But you said what we did was good.

It was.

But we have to get some of those cars off the street, Buffy.

You see, children run out from behind them, and there are accidents.

But if there was a park, then the kids wouldn't have to play in the street.

That's true.

However... Those cars make it very difficult for the trash collectors to

the cans on the curb.

If the garbage accumulates, it could jeopardize the health of the entire

community.

I'm sorry, Jody. I'm afraid the plan for the parking lot will have to stand.

Oh, come on, Ricky. I have to get back to work. I told you it was a waste of

time. Please try to understand, Mr. Alvarez.

I understood before I got here.

I just wanted my boy to see for himself the kind of runaround people like us

get.

I told you, you can't fight City Hall.

I still think it was a good idea.

I guess good ideas don't always make good things happen.

Okay, time for bed, kids.

Hey, Jody, don't tear up your plan.

A plan's no good if it doesn't come true.

Ricky's father's right.

He's not right.

But we tried, Uncle Bill, and it didn't work.

I know, but that doesn't mean it's wrong to keep on trying.

You're always going to win some and you're going to lose some.

But if you just quit, then you lose by default.

What's lose by default?

That means when you just give up without trying.

See, if you think you're right about something, then you've got to go and

for it.

See? Now, come on.

Go to bed.

Uncle Bill's right. We shouldn't give up without a fight.

But what could little kids do?

I don't know yet, but we'll think of something.

Would you like something before I turn in, sir? No, thanks.

Good night. Good night.

Is there something wrong, sir? No, sorry to woke you up.

Oh, that's quite all right, sir.

Allow me, sir.

Well, I think I came up with something about the park for the kids.

Oh, you did?

Well, that's wonderful, sir. I don't know if I'm going to be able to do it,

it's worth trying.

Well, the children will be delighted to hear that there's still hope, sir. No,

now, don't say anything, because if it doesn't work out, I don't want to be

disappointed again.

Oh, yes, I understand, sir. I believe the expression is, uh, keep your lip.

Something like that.

Good night, sir.

What do you think of it?

It certainly looks workable.

Of course, I'm no engineer.

Well, I'm an engineer. It's workable, all right.

You want to make a pitch for it?

I'll be glad to present it, Mr. Davis, but I don't think it'll make any

difference. I mean, your plan obviously calls for a much greater outlay of

funds, and the city is...

I'll give them twice what they think they're going to get for their money,

Well, that could cost you a lot of money.

No, I won't.

Anyway, there's something that's got to be more important than showing a profit.

I mean, if a couple of little kids can make a park out of a dump, we ought to

able to make it possible for them to keep it.

All right.

I'll do my best.

More than that.

We're home, Mr. French.

Good afternoon, children.

Did we get a letter?

No, I'm afraid there was no mail for you today. Why, were you expecting

something?

I guess not.

Now, I suggest you put your books aside. Your uncle phoned and said we were to

meet him at your park at four o 'clock.

It's not our park anymore, Mr. French.

Did Uncle Bill say why he wanted us to meet him?

No, no, he was a bit rushed on the phone.

Good gracious, it's 20 minutes to the hour. I suggest that we depart.

Okay. Uncle Bill probably wants to help us take away the stuff we put up.

I guess so. But I don't know how we're going to unplant the seeds.

Well, shall we go, children?

Uncle Bill. I hope we didn't keep you waiting.

No, I just got here.

Uncle Bill, you didn't have to come. We can take the stuff out by ourselves.

I sure hope we don't have to put back all the garbage we took out.

Come on, let's go.

Why is everybody here?

That's what we want to know. Your uncle said we should come.

You said it was important, so I came over, but I've got to get back to work.

It's okay. It'll only take a few minutes.

Sorry I'm late.

I crossed town traffic. It's not to be believed.

I believe it.

I guess it is rough on cab drivers.

We're going to take away all the stuff we put up, Mr. Morley.

They'll hardly even know we cleaned up the lot.

Well, I didn't come here to check up on you. I, uh... I gather you haven't told

them yet.

No, I thought they ought to hear it right from City Hall.

Oh. Oh, okay.

Kids?

You gotta have your park.

We won! We won!

We're gonna have our park!

Yay!

The city's giving the lot to the kids?

No parking lot?

Well, actually, Mr. Alvarez, we're gonna have both.

Mr. Davis came up with an excellent plan that provides for underground parking

with a play park on top.

You did it, Uncle Bill.

Thank you, Uncle Bill.

Oh, you thank the councilman. He got the job done for you. I was well armed. It

was a good plan.

But you know what actually sold the idea?

That letter from you two kids.

Oh, yes. Yes, the mayor called me right after he received it.

Your letter to the mayor.

I had no idea, sir.

We had to, Uncle Bill. You told us not to give up, and we didn't know what to

do. So we wrote a letter to the mayor.

What do you know about that?

Maybe, uh... Maybe you'd like to read it to all the kids.

Especially that last paragraph.

Okay.

We know it's hard for the mayor of such a big city to worry about everything,

but... We only wanted to have a park and an empty lot so kids wouldn't have to

play in the street.

Mostly we're sad for Ricky because now... Now he will always think cars are

important to grown -ups than kids are.

I was wrong, son.

You have to fight for what's right.

Even if you don't always win.

That's what Uncle Bill says.

It's okay, Dad.

Everybody doesn't have to be right about everything all the time.

And mostly you're right.

Thank you, son.

Thanks, Davis.

Oh, kids get all the credit.

Well, want to see what it looks like when it's finished?

We sure do.

Okay. Now, the ramp to the underground parking thing is going to go right down

there. So right in here is where we'll have the benches and the sandboxes for

the little guys.

Don't forget the conical, Bill.

And Lake Ricky.

I won't. Oh, and please, the Hyde Park with a Y.

Oh.

Right there, there's going to be a great big tree, and underneath we'll have a

water fountain.

It's been very good of you to watch, and we do hope to see you again next week

on Family Affair.